How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization
Author: Franklin Foer
Who knew you could learn so much about globalization, economics and politics from soccer? Great read.
Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
Author: Julia Cameron
One possible path to re-discovering the creativity you never knew you had.
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies, New Edition
Author: Jared Diamond
An admirable crack at explaining why the world is the way it is by way of an anthropological macro-history. This book probably comes up the most in conversation as we travel.
The Cathedral Within: Transforming Your Life by Giving Something Back
Author: Bill Shore
Inspiring profiles of social entrepreneurs and projects we all can learn from and hopefully replicate to give back to community.
Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation
Author: John Carlin
Although the storyline is built around the South African rugby team and the 1995 World Cup, this book is more about Nelson Mandela and how he was able to unite a divided country. Inspiring.
Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown
Author: Paul Theroux
The author re-visits Africa and re-assesses the place he once knew... and judges it once and for all. Well written, poignant observations of the thumbprints left by career politicians, aid workers, and everyday people.
Outliers: The Story of Success
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
A look at the internal and external factors of how extraordinary people got to be, well, extraordinary. One of those books that challenges assumptions and makes you think differently.
Shantaram: A Novel
Author: Gregory David Roberts
Administering first aid in a Bombay slum, selling fake passports and running guns to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan. Technically a novel, but closely linked to the Author's own experiences. Fantastic read.
This is a story about a baby turtle and how we helped to set him free. It’s also a tale of working together and conservation gone right.
Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Mexico, North America, Sustainable Tourism, Travel by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
25 Comments | 16 April 2012
Tucked into the folds of the jungle in Mexico’s Chiapas region stands the mostly buried and only very partially exposed Mayan ruins of Palenque. If you haven’t already experienced this place or you’ve come to feel ruin fatigue in this part of the world, consider a visit. For us, it’s become one of our favorites. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Mexico, North America by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
10 Comments | 15 April 2012
Have you ever experienced something exceptional you’d hoped to capture and share, but you were forbidden to photograph or record it? That was the Easter celebration in the village of San Juan Chamula in the Chiapas region of Mexico.
This was no ordinary Catholic church, nor was this an Easter celebration like any we’d ever seen.
The last photo we were allowed to take.
Filed Under: Mexico, North America, Travel by: Daniel Noll
20 Comments | 13 April 2012
When you imagine your ideal beach, what do you see?
Ours might feature an open stretch of coast, no crowds and a few small establishments — the type of place where if you wake up early you may even have the entire beach to yourself.
And this is what we found in the laid back town of Mazunte along Mexico’s Pacific Coast last week. Open the panorama to see for yourself. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Mexico, Panorama by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
13 Comments | 6 April 2012
Mexico has ruins, Mexico has beaches. But the only place in the country where you’ll find them both? That’s the Riviera Maya.
Our visit to Riviera Maya was short — only five days – but it was chock full, not only of beaches and ruins, but of tasty local cuisine, lush jungle, psychedelic jellyfish, and even some afternoon karaoke. When I think back, here are some of my favorite memories. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Mexico, Travel by: Audrey Scott
32 Comments | 26 March 2012
Just when you’ve been spending too much time on your laptop, you catch a ride down the road, up a series of switchbacks, and you land at a place like this: the natural springs at Hierve el Agua.
A place that feels wide open with blue skies, ripples and cascades that all say “jump in.”
Then you do. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Mexico, Panorama by: Daniel Noll
9 Comments | 23 March 2012
I remember earthquakes from when I lived in San Francisco. Fortunately, they were relatively infrequent and insignificant. Yesterday, I experienced a real one. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Mexico, North America by: Daniel Noll
8 Comments | 21 March 2012
This is the story of a perfect afternoon in Yucatan, including relaxing in the ruins of a hacienda, eating a traditional Yucatecan lunch, swimming in a lush collapsed sinkhole, and perhaps most importantly, satiating my six-year long curiosity about something called puerco pibil.
“For lunch, everything is local,” Julia, our host, explained as she walked us about the grounds of the old hacienda near the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Mexico, North America, Travel by: Audrey Scott
20 Comments | 20 March 2012
Want to know the end to a perfect afternoon in the Yucatan? Taking a dip in a cenote.
What is a cenote, you ask? Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Mexico, Panorama by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
12 Comments | 16 March 2012
As some zero in on the Mayan calendar coming to an end at this year’s winter solstice, others go on (that would include us, by the way). In that spirit, we spent the day yesterday with two archaeologists at Chichen Itza Mayan ruins in Mexico’s Yucatan province and dug a bit deeper into the story. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Mexico, Panorama by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
11 Comments | 9 March 2012
