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THE SACRED VALLEY, PERU: SLEEPING IN THE CLOUDS

400 iron rungs jut out of a rock face in the Sacred Valley, 90 minutes outside Cusco. At the top sit three transparent capsules, hanging in place against the sheer cliff wall.

featured, hotel, Peru, Sacred Valley, Sky Lodge

LONDON, ENGLAND: LONDON’S SUBTERRANEAN ROMAN CULT

Several metres below London’s street level, in a dark, unassuming room, sits a reconstructed temple of the ancient Roman cult of Mithras.

Archaeology, London, Mithras, Roman Empire

KOH KER, CAMBODIA: THE ENGINEERING FAILURE THAT BROUGHT DOWN AN ANCIENT CAMBODIAN CAPITAL

Without this spectacular ancient engineering failure, the throngs of tourists that descend on Angkor Wat could now be filing through Koh Ker, marvelling at the Khmer Empire’s architectural feats.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Koh Ker, Tomb Raider, travel

ARALSK, KAZAKHSTAN: THE BARREN SEA RAISED FROM THE DEAD

The Aral Sea was once the fourth-largest inland body of water on earth- then everything changed.

Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK: THE DRUG MARKETPLACE OF CHRISTIANIA FREETOWN

As the all-too-familiar parade of uniformed law enforcement enters the hippie commune in Copenhagen, the 40-45 stall owners lining the streets scramble to get their contraband out of site.

Christiania, Copenhagen, Denmark, drugs

ORADOUR-SUR-GLANE, FRANCE: THE CHILLING SITE OF ONE OF WORLD WAR II’S WORST ATROCITIES

On Saturday, June 10th, 1944, time in Oradour-sur-Glane simply stopped passing.

Europe, France, Oradour-sur-Glane, World War II

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: THE VIKING BOARD GAME THAT TESTS STRATEGY AND CUNNING

What women are they; warring together before their defenceless king; day after day the dark guard him, but the fair go forth for attack?

board game, Sweden, vikings

SHIRAZ, IRAN: AN EXPLOSION OF COLOUR IN NASIR-AL MULK

Of all the uses of light in religion, perhaps none is more captivating than Nasir al-Mulk mosque in Shiraz, Iran.

Colour, Iran, Mosque, Nasir-al Mulk, religion, Shiraz

ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA: HOW POACHING IS CHANGING THE EVOLUTION OF A SPECIES

In the case of the African elephant, the impact mankind is having on the species is clearly visible.

Addo, african elephant, conservation, environment, safari, South Africa

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA: A HAUNTING MEMORIAL TO VICTIMS OF WHITE SUPREMACY

The National Memorial for Peace and Justice sits on a six-acre site near the Alabama State Capitol, overlooking a former artery of the slave trade, the Alabama River.

alabama, confederate, lynching memorial, national memorial for peace and justice, USA

BAN TA KLANG, THAILAND: THE UNUSUAL PRODUCTION METHOD USED IN THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE COFFEE

For consumers of Black Ivory, the prestige and idiosyncrasy are in the production. It all begins with a herd of elephants in the rich foothills of Northern Thailand.

black ivory coffee, coffee, elephant

IMSIL, SOUTH KOREA: THE THEME PARK THAT PAYS HOMAGE TO THE REGION’S CHEESEMAKING

In 2004, Imsil took its love for cheese to the next level. It opened the Cheese Theme Park.

cheese, cheese theme park, South Korea, theme park, travel

ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA: THE ANTI-RELIGION MUSEUMS OF THE SOVIET UNION

In the 1920s, the Bolsheviks embarked on an ambitious campaign to alter social attitudes towards religion.

Atheism, propaganda, religion, Russia, Soviet Union

OKINAWA, JAPAN: JAPAN’S SHARK EXTERMINATION PROGRAM

Japanese fishermen fight for control of the oceans.

fishing, Japan, shark, travel

ZANZIBAR, TANZANIA: THE SEAWEED FARMERS OF ZANZIBAR

As visitors step onto Paje Beach on the island’s South-eastern shores, they are greeted by neat rows of upright sticks jutting out of the shallows, like sentries protecting the island’s shores.

Africa, Climate Change, Seaweed farmers, Tanzania, zanzibar

TORONTO, CANADA: A THEATRE WITH A LIVING CEILING

Theatre has a profound ability to transport the viewer into an alternate world. However, at one theatre in Toronto, the other world feels tangible and real; because it is.

Restoration, Theatre, Toronto, travel, Winter Garden Theatre

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: THE FORMER TORTURE CENTRE TURNED MUSEUM

Between 1976 and 1983, Argentina was at war. The Dirty War, as it became known, was not with a foreign power, but waged against its own population.

Argentina, dictatorship, Dirty War, ESMA, History, torture

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, ENGLAND: THE SLEEPY MEDIEVAL TOWN THAT STOKED BIN LADEN’S HATRED FOR THE WEST

Even global terrorist masterminds had lives before they dedicated their efforts to the destruction of the western values.

Bin Laden, England, Shakespeare, stratford upon avon, travel

PERU: THE ROAD THAT SUSTAINED AND DESTROYED AN EMPIRE

Spanning six countries and more than 30,000 km, Qhapaq Ñan was the artery of the Inca Empire.

conquistadors, History, Inca, Peru, Qhapaq Ñan, Spanish empire, travel

YUNNAN PROVINCE, CHINA: EATING INSECTS IN SOUTHERN CHINA

Lijiang hosts an annual “bug-eating contest”. Once a year, the local people don traditional garments and attempt to put away as many insects as they can in a five-minute period.

China, Food, Insect eating, Lijiang, travel, wasp larvae, Yunnan

SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA: A LETTER HOME

The relationship between lodge workers and monkeys in the Serengeti National Park is complex.

Africa, letter home, Monkey, safari, Serengeti, Tanzania, travel

SAN SEBASTIAN, SPAIN: THE FOODIE HEAVEN WHERE THE TASTE IS IN THE DETAILS

With two restaurants featuring in the top 20 restaurants on earth, and three restaurants with three Michelin stars, San Sebastian is a foodie mecca.

Alubias, Anchoas, Bacalao, basque country, Cuisine, Food, Ingredients, Kokotxas, Pintxos, San Sebastian, Spain, Txuleta, Vasco

PHILADELPHIA, PENSYLVANIA: MADNESS AND INSANITY INSIDE THE WALLS OF EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY

It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails

abandoned places, abandoned prison, Al Capone, Eastern state penitentiary, pensylvania, philadelphia, prison, travel, USA

SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: THE HOUSE OF SPITE

An unforeseen obstacle hindered Austro-Hungarian town planning in Sarajevo.

austro-hungarian, balkans, bosnia, History, house of spite, Sarajevo, travel

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: A LETTER HOME

April 27th, 2017

Argentina, buenos aires, Creative writing, San Telmo, travel, Travel writing

ANDALUCIA, SPAIN: THE FIGHTING BULLS THAT INSPIRED A SPORTS CAR BRAND

Miura ranch holds an almost mythical reputation in the world of Spanish bullfighting.

andalucia, bullfighting, car, españa, gallardo, lamborghini, murcielago, Spain, travel

GLOUCESTERSHIRE, ENGLAND: THE SMALL VILLAGE FESTIVAL WITH INTERNATIONAL FAME

England is home to more than its fair share of strange traditions, customs, and sports, but few are more primitive, wackier, and muddier than the annual cheese rolling festival.

cheese rolling, crazy, England, festival, gloucester, travel, weird

ISLAS BALLESTAS, PERU: CHASING HUMBOLDT PENGUINS AND SEA LIONS OFF THE COAST OF PERU

After a whirlwind speedboat trip from the harbour of Paracas, the Islas Ballestas came into view.

islas ballestas, lima, penguins, Peru, sea lion, travel, wildlife

CHERNOBYL, UKRAINE: CHERNOBYL’S RESURGENCE AS AN ENERGY PRODUCTION HUB

The plant at the centre of the nuclear nightmare is undergoing a transformation/

chernobyl, energy, History, nuclear, radioactive, renewable, solar, travel, Ukraine

SODO, SEATTLE: DINING WITH THE DEAD IN FDR’S OLD PERSONAL RAIL CAR

Now, the Orient Express is known for strong liquor, karaoke and crab Rangoon, but it hasn’t always been that way.

Asian food, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Karaoke, orient express, seattle, travel

EYAM, ENGLAND: THE VILLAGE THAT MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE TO STOP THE SPREAD OF PLAGUE

“He hath, I hear, gained goodwill among his neighbours; for he discovered it himself first, and caused himself to be shut up of his own accord”

1665, Bubonic Plague, England, Eyam, History, plague, Samual Pepys, travel

SARAJEVO, BOSNIA: GONZO JOURNALISM IN SNIPER ALLEY

The war correspondents would speed out in their cars and dart across the road, with their bulletproof jackets pulled up to their neck and their helmets tightly fastened. But not Paul Marchand.

bosnia, bosnian civil war, Gonzo, Holiday Inn, Hunter S. Thompson, paul marchand, Sarajevo, Sniper Alley, travel, war

SON MY, VIETNAM: THE UNDER-VISITED MEMORIAL

While there are many sites, memorials and museums dedicated to remembering the Vietnam War, this was one of the most powerful.

1968, death, memorial, my lai, Quang Ngai City, Son My, travel, Vietnam, Vietnam war, war, william calley

VILADECANS, SPAIN: THE 12 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE

Elrow pulls revelers from across the globe down the rabbit hole.

barcelona, club, dance, elrow, ibiza, party, row14, Spain, travel

SINTRA, PORTUGAL: THE INEXPRESSIBLE CHARM OF QUINTA DA REGALEIRA’S MASONIC WELLS

“One mustn’t look at the abyss, because there is at the bottom an inexpressible charm which attracts us.”

architechture, Dante, Freemason, Inferno, Portugal, Quinta da Regaleira, sintra, travel

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA: PAY-BY-THE-HOUR HOTELS, BUT NOT AS YOU’VE SEEN THEM BEFORE

Argentina’s telos are discrete “love hotels” for adventurous travellers looking for something different.

Argentina, buenos aires, hotel, lunfardo, sex, telo, travel

ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA: A CELEBRATION OF STRENGTH AND BRAVERY

Mongolian wrestling, or Bökh, is a spectacle to behold.

Bokh, Khutulun, Mongolia, Naadam, Ulaanbaatar, wrestling

BEIRUT, LEBANON: THE BIKERS OF BEIRUT

The booming sound of thunder dominates the streets of Beirut.

beirut, civil war, harley davidson, Lebanon, war

PAMPLONA, SPAIN: WHEN THE BULLS COME TO TOWN

During the eight-day festivities of San Fermin, more than eight tons of bovine flesh is shepherded through the town of Pamplona.

bull run, Bulls, Encierro, Jandilla, Pamplona, San Fermin

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