When most people think about the Red Sea resort town of Hurghada, Egypt they likely imagine relaxing on the beach, scuba diving, adventuring in the desert, golfing, and lounging at a big resort. Hurghada does have all of that.
Rarely, however, does one think about fresh markets and a taste of local Egyptian culture. It’s there in Hurghada, if only you look hard enough. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Egypt, Panorama by: Audrey Scott
6 Comments | 5 May 2012
Whales with legs? In the desert?
That’s what you’ll find in the Valley of the Whales (Wadi El-Hitan) in Fayoum, Egypt. More accurately, you’ll find the over 35 million year-old fossilized remains of whales with short legs, appendages marking their evolution from land mammals to sea mammals. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Egypt, Middle East, Panorama by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
8 Comments | 29 April 2012
Although the Saladin Citadel in Cairo was built in the 12th century to help protect the city from the Crusaders, the Muhammad Ali Mosque came much later, in the 19th century. Built in the architectural style of the Ottomans, the mosque has a feeling of wide open grandeur punctuated by chandeliers and cupolas.
Sit on the carpet in middle for as long as you need. Look up, look around and enjoy the peacefulness of the place. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Egypt, Panorama by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
11 Comments | 22 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
Have you ever wondered where your morning tea comes from? Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Bangladesh, Panorama by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
10 Comments | 30 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
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
4:00 A.M., alarm blaring, almost violent at an ungodly hour. I cursed it and was tempted to roll over. But I knew if I had, I’d regret it. I had a volcanic lake to visit.
After a bumpy chicken bus ride, we finally arrived at the lake’s edge. The sun was just coming up and we were among the very few people there.
Open up the panorama to see Quilotoa Lake for yourself. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Ecuador, Panorama by: Audrey Scott
10 Comments | 2 March 2012
Since our visit to Myanmar (Burma) in 2008, a lot has changed. Aung San Suu Kyi has been released from house arrest. The junta government seems to be loosening controls and opening up. Heck, it seems like every week there’s a group of foreign dignitaries visiting Myanmar, something impossible during the time of our visit.
But even with all the dignitary visits and changing moods, we imagine that Shwedagon Pagoda is still the same. Continue Reading »
Filed Under: Burma (Myanmar), Panorama by: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott
15 Comments | 24 February 2012
