How can you explain the smell of tobacco in a smoke-free house, lights and appliances that turn on and off by themselves and drafts of cold air far from the […]
Discovering the Pura Vida in Costa Rica
It’s May and that means it’s the rainy season in Costa Rica! Perfect time to go for budget nomads — off-season rates apply and you won’t be encountering more Americans than Ticos, (as Costa Ricans are affectionately called). Besides, it only rains a little in the afternoon — big damn deal! There’s muchos reasons to visit […]
Chilling in Chacala, Mexico
Most folks haven’t heard of Playa Chacala, and that’s part of its beauty. The idyllic fishing village 56 miles north of Puerta Vallarta provides a low-cost authentic vacation alternative to the mega-resorts for which Mexico is famed (some say shamed). A visit here is a recipe for relaxation and has little negative environmental impact. It […]
The Holy Coast of Kenya: Mombasa, Lamu and Beyond
When most people imagine Kenya they conjure up images of safaris, elephants and Maasai warriors, but there’s another side of Kenya for visitors, a laid back alternative to the adrenaline rush provided by animal chasing on the plains. It’s the mellow Swahili coast of the country with its eclectic cultural, delicious deserted beaches and a […]
Tattooing for Better Karma: Ink in the Hindu Belt
Despite the intense appreciation and prevalence of tattooing in the “Hindu belt” of Asia, specifically the countries of Nepal, India and Indonesia, we hardly ever hear or read about the tattoo traditions of these countries. Tattooing is an integral part of the lifestyle, and although the artists are not held in high esteem (as are […]
Hampi: City of Victory
Any place with a temple dedicated to the dancing God from the Bhagavad-Gita (that is um, Shiva) is okay by us. It’s like a petrified dream taken from storybooks of ancient Hindu mythology: red rock structures framing the landscape and ruins. This is Hampi, the modern-day capital of the Vijayanagar empire. Located in southern India’s […]
Eco-Volunteer in Argentina at Gaia
If you are interested in sustainable living, improving your Argentine Spanish skills at an affordable cost, and enjoying vegetarian food in the otherwise carnivorous country of Argentina, you could do no better than to land at Gaia, an ecovillage a couple of hours outside of Buenos Aires. Founded in 1996, the 20-hectare community is situated […]