A United Nations-backed solar energy project has literally shed light on rural India. The program, which launched in 2003 and has since won the prestigious Energy Globe Award, has made a positive impact in rural communities where residents previously relied mostly on dangerous kerosene lamps to light the night. The southern Indian state of Karnataka […]
Visitors to National Parks expect pristine wilderness, but such habitats may be the last thing we see while vacationing there. My recent trip to Yellowstone led to concern about our park system as a refuge for wildlife. Roads in National Parks are a harsh obstacle for wildlife, with hundreds of animals struck or killed each […]
Historically, Kashmir has been known more for its violent conflicts than for its tourist attractions. As late as 2002, India and Pakistan were involved in a near nuclear standoff over the disputed region. Over the past 25 years or so, tens of thousands of people, some foreign tourists included, have lost their lives in the […]
The Ganges, the Colorado, the Nile, the Yangtze: these are but a few of the world’s greatest rivers, whose names paint a majestic image and whose places in history are nothing short of legendary. The Ganges, sacred to Hindus, is considered the physical form of the goddess Ganga. According to Hopi Indian legend, mankind emerged […]
Mumbai’s latest attraction seems an unlikely match for India’s most cosmopolitan city: guided walks through Dharavi, Asia’s biggest slum and home to over 600,000 people. For an afternoon, visitors give up the glamour of Bollywood for the grime of the hutments, where great industry and extreme poverty lie side by side. The tour has triggered […]
In February, a group of 30 volunteers left from San Francisco to begin the first-ever U.S. Peace Corps mission to Cambodia, a nation in Southeast Asia recovering from years of war and upheaval. Volunteers will teach English to secondary school children as well as work within communities to help improve living standards. The 1970’s and […]
A quick glance at Dubai’s skyline confirms that the United Arab Emirates’ (U.A.E.’s) three decade long economic boom is running at full throttle. Once a quiet, somewhat impoverished corner of the Persian Gulf, the Emirates has become a top tourism destination and a major hub for foreign investment in the region. New skyscrapers and five-star […]
The U.S. started 2007 with several passport-related changes, including one that requires all passengers entering the country by air show passports upon arrival. On January 8, the government tightened entry requirements for holders of Iraqi passports, effective immediately. To enter the United States, Iraqi citizens must now provide a “G” or “H” series passport, an […]
In an effort partially intended to curb vehicle congestion and pollution in the French capital, city hall has rolled out a scheme to offer more than 20,000 bicycles at more than 1000 stations around Paris. Tourists and locals alike can take part in the program, which will operate on a swipe-card system, and is free […]
