64 articles tagged with traditional crafts
While most travelers flock to Cox's Bazar for its claim to fame as the world's longest natural sea beach, my recent business trip to Bangladesh revealed a far more compelling narrative hiding in plain sight. The fishing villages dotting this...
There's a psychological phenomenon I've observed in my practice: the objects we bring home from our travels become tangible anchors to transformative experiences. In Pago Pago, American Samoa, the act of selecting traditional crafts isn't just shopping—it's participating in a...
There's something humbling about standing on an island that measures barely one square kilometer, where the horizon stretches endlessly in all directions and the weight of both history and present reality hangs in the salt-laden air. Ebeye isn't your typical...
The first time I arrived in Otavalo, my vital signs spiked with that familiar rush of medical adrenaline – but this time, it wasn't from an emergency call. It was the sensory diagnosis of a place alive with cultural richness...
When I return to India from my home in Chicago, I feel the familiar rhythm of my motherland pulsing beneath my feet. Chennai, once known as Madras, holds a special place in my heart - not just for its stunning...
When most travelers think of Peru, Machu Picchu and Cusco immediately come to mind. But after five trips to this incredible country, I've discovered that some of Peru's most authentic experiences lie in less-trodden regions like Chiclayo. This coastal city...
The hills of West Virginia have stories etched into their very bedrock—tales of resilience, craftsmanship, and community that stretch back generations. As someone who's documented cultural preservation across five continents, I've developed a particular fondness for places where tradition isn't...
The land speaks through the hands of its people. This Māori wisdom resonates deeply as I navigate the dusty roads connecting Trinidad and Santa Cruz in Bolivia's eastern lowlands. Here, far from the tourist crowds of La Paz and Uyuni,...
The turquoise waters of Sharm El Sheikh first drew me here as a marine biologist, but it was the golden sands beyond the resort boundaries that captured my heart. After years of studying coral ecosystems by day and retreating to...
The morning sun casts long shadows across the red earth as I sip strong Congolese coffee on my guesthouse veranda in Mbuji-Mayi. Children's laughter drifts from a nearby schoolyard, reminding me of my classroom back in Santa Ana, though I'm...
The mountains of Wangdue Phodrang aren't just geographic formations—they're living deities wrapped in prayer flags and mist. As someone who's chased summits across four continents, I can tell you that nowhere else have I felt terrain so deeply infused with...
The moment my feet touched Mississippi soil, I felt the rhythm in the ground. That's not poetic exaggeration—the Delta has a pulse that runs through its red earth, flowing alongside the mighty Mississippi River that gives this region its name....
The night sky over Ewa Gentry holds a different kind of magic than what you'll find in Waikiki's neon glow. As someone who's found solace in stargazing during night shifts at the hospital, I can tell you there's something profoundly...
The juxtaposition of ancient traditions and ultramodern luxury in Bangkok creates a fascinating study in contrasts that I've found myself drawn to repeatedly over the years. As someone who spends most days analyzing the intricate details of medical imaging, I...
The morning mist hangs like a silk veil over the Mekong River as I join a small gathering of travelers and locals along the roadside. We kneel quietly, barefoot on woven mats, as the orange-robed monks appear in the distance...
