We tend to undermine the role of cultures in building stronger economies. But the fact is culture leads to tourism, tourism brings in jobs, and jobs build economies. Even the idea of foreign currencies and trading them through brokers like Libertex (look at the Libertex Gebühren here) have the ability to heighten and increase the […]

Today I will take you on a tour through Rio de Janeiro’s infamous favelas. A favela is basically a slum in Brazil, commonly recognizable by hundreds of illegally constructed, brightly painted dwellings on the slope of a hillside. You can spot these favela from everywhere in the city, driving through a highway, from a posh […]

Imagine for a moment that you’re the master of all you survey. Standing atop a 30-meter scaffolding canopy tower you see vast expanses of prime forest and the lazy Tambopata River. You’re in southeastern Peru on the Tambopata National Reserve that’s part of 3.7 million acres of conserved land sweeping upwards towards the Andes and […]

Recently I discovered two new great finds in my neighborhood of Vinings in Atlanta. There is a little history in this area. In July 1864 the Union Army marched from Chattanooga to Atlanta moving into “Vining’s Station” and commandeering Pace’s property and tavern. By the 1930’s Vinings developed into a cool summer retreat from the heat of […]

CouchSurfing is the world’s largest social travel network, connecting a global community of travelers, adventure seekers, and lifelong learners who are dedicated to sharing their cultures, hospitality, and authentic experiences. Members use the website to arrange offline interactions like a shared meal, an overnight stay, or a hike. There are currently more than 4 million CouchSurfers, […]

My family was a Servas International (a global travel exchange organization with a mission of peace building) member ever since I was 10 years old. Back in India, we use to have people from all over the world visit and stay with us for up to a week at a time. They would bring with […]

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) has put together a brand-new set of criteria that will help put travel destinations, not just hotels, restaurants or airlines, on the path toward social, cultural, and environmental sustainability. Using things like Green energy help towards the global efforts to reduce climate change and attempt to save our planet. […]

When the mercury is rising, you want to eat light, healthy and cooling foods. How many times a week can you eat salad? Here is a recipe for a summery pasta entree that incorporates a lot of fresh vegetables.

They say you never truly know a place till you actually go there yourself and experience it first hand. People warn you, advise you, paint a picture of a destination for you. But everyone has their own lens of looking at things so where one finds danger, another may feel safe, where one sees chaos, another may […]

Last Sunday, I was at the Ipanema Hippie Market in Rio de Janeiro. The Hippie Fair has been a tradition since 1968 and one of the must-see attractions in Rio. You will also find many locals strolling through the Praca Gal (main square in Ipanema), shopping for gifts and everyday use items at the artisanal fair.

Here’s a recipe for a traditional fish stew from Brazil. It incorporates a lot of vegetables and can be cooked very easily in a crock pot. The recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare but has a lot of flavor.

Rio de Janeiro has taken concept restaurants to a whole new level. Outside of Brazil, we associate Brazilian cuisine with all you can eat steakhouses but that is only one of the offering you find here in Rio. In fact, the locals love to eat out and cannot afford the high end steakhouses every day. Neither is it […]

After a decade of cooking, teaching and entertaining, I have come to know a good cooking pan from an ordinary one. You can find reviews and lists of the best cookware sets online and, in most cases, I agree with these recommendations. But I do have my personal favourites. One of my favorites are the […]

Another inspirational story of voluntrourism comes from an American chef in Vietnam. Chef Robert Danhi, a former instructor at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York and author of the cookbook Southeast Asian Flavors, leads culinary tours to Vietnam and other countries in Southeast Asia. After a few visits, Robert contemplated doing […]

My neighbors and good friends brought me gifts of flavor from their recent trip to South East Asia. Among the spice blends and recipes was a packet of Kari-Ikan fish curry powder. I decided to try it out using a little bit of my own experience of eating Malaysian food.

A delicious stop along the journey through the Black Hills of South Dakota is at an establishment known as Dakota Thyme.

Recently I visited Crazy Horse National Memorial in South Dakota. It is the largest mountain carving in the world, located in the Black Hills. Chief Crazy Horse was the leader of the Sioux Nation that defeated General Custer in 1876 and the memorial is dedicated to showcasing the Native American heritage. 

The Black Hills of South Dakota is a destination like no other. It is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers and families looking for adventure. While you can choose to drive along the mountains, fields and national parks for a self guided tour, a fun alternative is a day long Southern Black Hills Tour and Chuckwagon […]

Curry Masala is the only Indian restaurant in Rapid City. “Someone has to serve the vegans, vegetarians and gluten and dairy allergic people” says Al, who is doing the community a service as well as running a successful business in downtown Rapid City. Many of the local patrons are searching for options that are able […]