Follow this photographic journey featuring the Akha hill tribe transplanting rice:

Khum Lanna + Chiang Mai Rice Paddies © Gennaro Salamone

We were set for a sunrise biking tour along the rural country road from San Kwang village to Phrao to visit the local markets. Leaving the charming Khum Lanna, we were met by steady rains that prevented a view of the sunrise. Despite that, the early showers on the emerald-green rice paddies provided a tranquil atmosphere for the sojourn.

Akha Hill Tribe Transplanting Rice © Gennaro Salamone

We visited the local markets, stopping for tea and an interesting traditional drink that consisted mainly of raw eggs, before heading off to the area of the rice paddies where the Akha tribe was transplanting rice. Working in the rice paddies appeared to be labor intensive, but smiles were common among the inhabitants. This work is essential to the economic success of Thailand, which is the world’s biggest rice exporter according to the Bangkok Post.

Local Farmer © Gennaro Salamone + Overzealous Travel Writer (Taken by Ted Beatie)

The highlight of the morning was an opportunity to join the Akha in the rice paddies for some hands-on learning. It’s one thing to observe the nature of the labor, but having your legs ankle deep in mud while bending to stick rice plants into the ground gives a new level of understanding. We were fortunate to have a guide who had relationships with the community. Sometimes, it’s worthwhile to forgo complete independence while traveling.

I was joined on the trip by travel writers: Angela Dollar, Ted Beatie, and Carlo Alcos. Visit and bookmark their websites. After that, view Lake Titicaca photos featuring the Uros people.

This trip to Thailand was courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The content and opinions in the article are those of the author.
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing an article or photograph for publication.

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Follow this photographic journey around the coast of Bonaire:
Bonaire beach and cacti © Gennaro Salamone

Slavery is a common theme when studying the history of the Caribbean islands. Bonaire’s history is no different. The Spanish and the Dutch fought for years with the latter eventually gaining control of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Africans and Indians were used as labor with slaves living in quarters that were too short to stand in.
Former slave houses of Bonaire © Gennaro Salamone

Historically, salt production was the main labor for enslaved inhabitants. The salt industry still exists today and the solar salt farms along the southern part of Bonaire are used mostly for the creation of industrial salt. More important for visitors, the salt flats are a beautiful addition to the local landscape.
Salt flats of Bonaire © Gennaro Salamone

Miles of beaches covered in coral are found near the salt flats. Few venture into the waters of this area for swimming and much of it is uninhabited outside of a variety of birds and marine life. A lighthouse and its abandoned keeper’s house are a nice find for photographers.
Lighthouse © Gennaro Salamone

If you’re visiting Bonaire for diving or other water-related activities, a trip along the coast is a worthwile addition to your stay. It’s only a short drive from the resorts including Captain Don’s Habitat. That or a day trip to Washington Slagbaai National Park with its cacti, flamingos, and a sandy beach is a must.

This trip to Bonaire was courtesy of Tourism Corporation Bonaire. The content and opinions in the article are those of the author.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing an article or photograph for publication.

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This is a time-lapse exposure of a busy city crowd moving through Grand Central Station.  The effect was created completely in-camera. The woman seemed to be a lonely tourist waiting for someone to come rescue her.  She was so amazingly still that she looked afraid to even move. I never saw anyone come, and she soon walked off by herself.
Waiting in Grand Central Station, New York City © James Maher

This is a photo that I’ve been wanting to take for a long time. It captures two New York City subway trains in motion. This image was also created completely in-camera at the 72nd Street station in 2010.
Subway Trains in Motion, 72nd Street, New York City © James Maher

This photo was taken from the top of my mother’s building on Broadway and 94th street on a hot summer night in June of 2007. Lightning was flashing all around the building and the wind was gusting hard. Soon after this photo, it started to pour and the lightning strikes got close enough that I thought it best to leave. Earlier in the day, it is believed that one of these strikes hit a substation in Queens and was the cause of a blackout in the Bronx and on the Upper East Side, which created a lot of chaos during the 90 degree weather.
Lightning over Manhattan, New York City © James Maher

This photo was taken during the huge blizzard that hit the city in 2003. The snowstorm created such bad conditions that for much of the day I was completely lost in the park. At some point I found this bridge to seek refuge under. It didn’t take long before this couple came along with the same idea.
Couple in Snowstorm, Central Park, New York City © James Maher

The Chrysler Building, in my opinion, is the most iconic building in the city. The Gargoyles are probably the most talked about aspect of this classic Art Deco building, but I much prefer the metal spire, which can often be seen glinting like a diamond in the hot sun, or glowing throughout the night.
Chrysler Building Spire, New York City © James Maher

Featured Photo © Janne Rakkolainen
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James Maher is a fine art street and studio photographer based in New York City.  James credits his inspiration for photography to his love for the city and its endless supply of personalities to capture and streets to explore.  His New York photography consists of both scenic and architectural views of the city, as well as the closeup daily life of the people on the streets.
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Follow Scott Ruddick’s tour of the Kabul food stalls:

To the outside world, Kabul has become synonymous with the strife and conflict afflicting the whole of Afghanistan. Yet beyond the headlines, the capital city is a vibrant community of three million people with a thriving street food scene.

The influx of foreigners and money since the fall of the Taliban has gradually transformed the Kabul restaurant landscape. Enterprising street chefs, tabang wallahs in the local parlance, serve up a variety of local cuisine.
Kabul Food Stall © Scott Ruddick

Kabul’s food stalls are unassuming. They are often no more than a tin roof held up by a rough-hewn wood timber frame covering a cooking area. Electrical connections to run refrigeration are nonexistent and supplies are kept in coolers, lugged back and forth from the homes of the stall staff every day.

The best stalls are found around Shahr-e Naw Park, a large park in central Kabul that is popular with the locals for pick-up soccer matches and Friday bird fights. The stalls are clustered together along the wide sidewalks. In keeping with the business model of successful street food vendors everywhere, each stall will specialize in one or two food types, and build their business by offering a consistent, quality product at a reasonable price.
Mantu vendor and Kabob © Scott Ruddick

Each dish costs between 50 and 100 Afghanis ($1.25 and $2.50 USD). Busy times are lunch, the main meal in Afghanistan, when office workers and laborers are on the prowl for a cheap meal, and again in late afternoon as workers head home, and stop to pick up takeout for the evening meal.

Kabul’s street food stalls are both a cheaper alternative to more expensive sit-down restaurants and a respite from the heavy fare of traditional Afghan household cooking. A typical Afghan meal is centered on rice. Qabeli Palau or basmati rice with chopped carrots and raisins and pieces of meat is often the centerpiece, served with flat bread. While a well-done palau is a wonderful meal, the sheer ubiquitousness of it drives Afghanis and ex pats when they have been in country long enough to seek out different fare. The tabang wallahs are only too pleased to fill this void in the Afghan diet.

Kabob is the preferred takeout food for Kabul’s denizens meaning open-air kabob shops are to be found in every part of Kabul. Kabobs consist of lightly seasoned mutton, lamb, beef or chicken skewered on rough iron spikes then broiled over glowing charcoal. The kabob meat is wrapped in naan, a leavened bread that is baked by being slapped against the inner wall of a clay oven, which is in turn wrapped in old newspaper. The experienced kabob eater knows that naan serves as both a plate and an accompaniment. The rough side of the bread is always placed facing up with the meat piled on top of it. Chunks of the bread are ripped off and used to scoop up the meat. A typical mid-sized kabob stall will serve 110 pounds of meat a week.
Boloni © Scott Ruddick

Other tabang wallahs serve up steaming plates of delicately spiced raviolis. Indigenous to northern Afghanistan, mantu (stuffed with minced meat) and ashok (filled with leeks) are steamed over large open-air pots and served with a tangy yogurt sauce.

Boloni or stuffed pancakes filled with either shaved potato and onion (sabzi) or squash (kadu) are deep-fried in bubbling cauldrons of oil.

The carb-heavy Afghan burger, a recent Kabul concoction, is a favorite with the city’s teenage boys. It is common to see groups of them gathered on street corners, devouring the local meal of a spiced ground beef patty with a smattering of onions, tomato, and lettuce that is wrapped in a pita-like bread along with a side of French fries jammed into the sides.

Shor nakhod or stewed chickpeas are served on large plates with an accompanying mint sauce, which serves as either an accompaniment or a stand-alone meal.
Doogh stall © Scott Ruddick

Whatever your choice of entrée, wash it down with doogh, which is a carbonated yogurt drink seasoned with salt and mint.

A typical Afghan food stall will open late morning, and close around dusk Sunday to Thursday. This schedule is reversed during the religious month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. During this 30-day period, the stalls will open for iftar, the fast-breaking meal that takes place at sunset, and close at around sunrise, when the last meal before the dawn-induced fast begins.

Featured photo © Iain Cochrane

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Scott Ruddick is an international development specialist and a freelance writer who focuses on the developing world. Learn more about Scott on his website.

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Editor’s Note: This post was written by guest contributor Meera Ashish.

So, discovering how much Uganda has to offer, why then is Uganda not a tourist hot spot? Well, I definitely met tourists while traveling around here, but why isn’t Uganda on the tourist map as much as say Kenya or Tanzania? Of course, the quality of safaris that the latter two countries offer are unrivalled, but if you go to the right places in Uganda, you’ll certainly get to see the big five. When I visited Murchison Falls, I managed to see two lionesses and one majestic lion from up close on my very first day. When I say close, they were just steps away from our jeep: sitting, lazing, and yawning. One thing’s for sure, traveling by road to Murchison Falls or anywhere can be a little tiring, though simultaneously eye-opening, and if you want to take a plane anywhere, it might pinch your pockets. So it definitely doesn’t help that traveling within the country is either long or expensive.
Sipi Falls + Kampala Sunset © Meera Ashish

But regardless of all this, I think the lack of tourism here is to do with the fact that there just hasn’t been enough of a push in media. Yes, Uganda may have its own problems, just like any other country, but it seems that the government here needs dedicate a team and invest some capital into marketing the country. No matter how much a country has to offer, if the average person living in any other city of the world doesn’t hear anything about it – well apart from watching Last King of Scotland and thinking that Uganda still hasn’t quite recovered from the despotic leader it had so many years ago – then how can that country expect to attract high numbers of tourists?

And it isn’t just the game parks, the gorillas and the Nile that can attract tourists. Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, is bustling with activity. It was a good place to start from, but also fascinating to understand the growth potential here, learning that Uganda had found barrels and barrels of oil. I wondered how different it would look in ten years, with all the oil money.

Apparently, they say that the land in Uganda is so fertile that anything you put in the soil will grow and bloom. Well, all the food I ate here certainly tasted extremely fresh and organic. The staple food here –a stodgy and mushy matoke mixed with groundnut soup and then a bean mixture (not quite sure what to call it) – might look bland and a little grubby, but it tastes pretty good. And some of the best dishes, you’ll find being cooked on the streets, from fresh and hot cassava to something called rolex – a rolled up fluffy egg chapati. I had this – without the egg – while quad biking through a village in Jinja. Nothing could have tasted better!

The quad biking route in fact overlooks the rafting in the Nile, but having never done rafting, I was a little apprehensive this time. Which means I have a lot left for next time. And the great thing is: I’m coming back at the end of this year for a bike ride from the famous Sipi Falls to Kampala, raising money for secondary schools in Uganda. Cycle4Uganda is hoping to attract a hundred people from around the world to participate in this 350km bike ride over the New Year period. 

The route will take in some of the most scenic spots in the region. Beginning at the imposing Tororo Rock, an ancient volcanic plug, the route takes us into the foothills of the magnificent extinct volcano, Mount Elgon, to view the spectacular Sipi Falls, a series of waterfalls with imposingly huge drops where much of the water from the mountain cascades off. Halfway through the ride there is an action packed ‘day-off’ in Jinja – so I’ll be rafting then. The route finishes with us leaving our bikes on the lakeshore and taking a small boat across Lake Victoria to a resort in Kampala, the capital city. We’ll be passing not only through the rural country, but also through several bustling towns. And of course, it’s going to be warm (apparently a warm climate all year round as it sits on the equator).

The bike ride is aiming to raise £150,000 or $230,000 to help secondary schools in Uganda. This will be done through an innovative program that has been devised by Mara Foundation, a charity based in Uganda. Rather than just spending money on a school and then going away, Mara Foundation partners with schools long-term to help them come up with new solutions for providing better education. The charity is quite unique – it recognizes the importance of good facilities, so raises money to develop them, but it also acknowledges that good facilities is only a small part of a quality education. The foundation has already partnered with two schools and hopes to scale the program up to ten schools in the coming year.

If you want to join the bike ride over the coming New Year, sign up on Cycle4Uganda.
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Meera Ashish is a weekly travel columnist for Gulf News, Dubai and contributes to various publications including Bazaar, Conde Nast, Spa Secrets, Epoch Times, and Travel Plus. Her guide to Dubai was recently published in the UK, and while she was born and brought up in London, she now splits her time between Uganda and Dubai – well, that’s when she’s not journeying around the world.

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The food

Japan may be famous for its sushi, but that’s by no means the only dish you’ll have the chance to try on your trip. Whether you choose to play safe with a delicious bowl of noodles, or brave something more outlandish such as the famed puffer fish, you’re sure to come away from Japan with a host of new favorite foods. You’re also likely to notice the very Japanese custom of restaurants displaying plastic food in their windows to show you what’s on offer – a surprisingly convenient way of ordering food if you don’t speak Japanese!
Miniature Sushi © Stephanie Kilgast

The culture

Japan’s captivating culture makes for an enriching experience even for the casual tourist, but those with the curiosity to delve deeper will be even more greatly rewarded. Japan has a highly refined and ceremonious culture, and is perhaps most famous for its tea ceremony and enigmatic Geisha. It also has a wealth of stunning temples, with 2,000 in Kyoto alone, while tranquil gardens with meticulously laid out vegetation and paths provide welcome respite from the frenetic pace of the major cities. You’ll even be able to see fascinating and well-preserved castles and samurai quarters, which have survived the centuries to see huge modern cities grow up around them.

The cherry blossom

Early April sees the arrival of the cherry blossom or sakura season in Japan, a glorious natural spectacle and the subject of much celebration in Japanese culture. This wonderful event makes April arguably the best time of year to visit Japan, as the clouds of pink blossom make the temples and gardens even more photogenic than usual. You’ll see people having picnics under the cherry trees to celebrate the blossom, creating a lively and jubilant atmosphere that will be the icing on the cake for your visit to Japan.
Mt. Fuji and sakura © Tanaka Juuyoh and Woman waiting for the train © John B. Mueller

The trains

Public transport might sound like an odd reason to visit a country, but Japan is famous for its trains. With an efficiency that puts other railways to shame, the Japanese rail network is highly refined and punctual to the second. Its pristine bullet trains – known in Japanese as Shinkansen – are capable of speeds in excess of 180 miles per hour, making travel between Japan’s major cities both easily manageable and comfortable. A recommended journey for your Japan holiday is a trip from Tokyo to Kyoto by bullet train, a stretch of which offers stunning close-up views of Japan’s iconic volcano, the snow-capped Mount Fuji (providing it’s not too cloudy!).

The landscapes and cityscapes

For many people, the image that immediately springs to mind in conjunction with Japan is skyscrapers, bright neon lights and cutting edge technology. In the bustling capital city of Tokyo this is certainly true, but there’s a lot more to Japan than its urban landscapes. The stunning spectacle of Mount Fuji has already been mentioned, as have Japan’s many temples and gardens, but further afield the scenery turns to magnificent rugged mountains – an ideal destination all year round, whether for summer hiking or winter skiing.

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Rachel McCombie is better known for her Rachel’s Rome Writings blog, but has traveled to and written about other countries as well. She went on a trip to Japan a couple of years ago and has been an avid enthusiast of Japanese culture ever since.

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Follow this photographic journey into the temple complex:

Angkor Wat, Cambodia © Gennaro Salamone

Massive tree roots engulf many of the temple structures especially at Ta Prohm. That’s where scenes from Angelina Jolie’s Tomb Raider were filmed. It’s also one of the most visually pleasing segments of Angkor.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia © Gennaro Salamone

The space is filled with lots of detailed figures. Many of them represent Hindu devatas (deities or celestial beings). Along with that representation comes a variety of Hindu stories told through carvings in the stone.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia © Gennaro Salamone

Buddhist statues demonstrate later influences at Angkor Wat. At the same time, scattered stones and partial structures show years of wear and tear at the grand temples.

For tourists visiting Angkor Wat, the temple complex has hundreds of structures over a considerable distance. Consider spending several days viewing them. Hiring a motorbike or renting a bicycle is a great way to get around.

View another journey featuring Bodh Gaya, India photos.
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing an article or photograph for publication.

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It takes many strong men to lift the traditional maibaum (decorated tree) at the festival, which is mostly organized by local traditional youth groups. The maibaum itself gets erected by a group of helpers because the tall tree is lifted with only a selection of smaller poles. The process can take many hours. During the last push to get the tree up, you’ll hear the men screaming “hau rucks” for leverage and unity.
Lifting of the Maibaum © Rolf Hicker

At the event, visitors can find many of these participants wearing traditional Bavarian clothing. Special socks are part of the traditional Bavarian clothing that’s worn during the lifting process. These special socks are worn with the famous German “lederhosen.”
German men wearing lederhosen © Rolf Hicker

While the boys are lifting up the maibaum, the girls are making sure that the guys are staying hydrated with original Bavarian beer. These women are wearing traditional clothing called a dirndl during the festivities. The traditional maibaum fest is a all day event. It’s common to see young men filling up a Masskrug or a 1 Liter Stein with fresh beer from a large wooden barrel.
Woman wearing a dirndl + Man with Bavarian beer © Rolf Hicker

Featured photo © Steffen Flor
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Rolf Hicker is a full time pro photographer who specializes in travel, nature, and wildlife. His images have been published in many of the largest magazines including National Geographic and Readers Digest as well as with some of the best known brand names like BMW, Holland America, Porsche, and Alaska Airlines. View more of Rolf’s Germany Pictures.

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Travel Magazines With the Highest Circulation (United States)

1. National Geographic 4,493,024
2. Via Magazine (AAA) 2,740,435
3. AAA Living 2,469,830
4. AAA Going Places 2,404,121
5. Sunset 1,259,750
6. Where Magazine 1,191,152
7. Travel + Leisure 996,217
8. Midwest Living 989,424
9. National Geographic International 883,357
10. Condé Nast Traveler 810,713
11. National Geographic Traveler 742,575
12. Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel 680,097
13. Coastal Living 671,023

It’s surprising to see so many AAA publications* on the list, but note that these often come with a membership to the American Automobile Association based on region. It’s also interesting that more than half the list focus on a specific area of the country rather than being national or international. Coastal Living and Midwest Living are two examples of that.

*An editorial decision was made to take two other magazines from AAA off the Audit Bureau of Circulations list because they’re actually closer to books (AAA Tourbooks and AAA Campbooks) in our view.

Find out the answer to: what are the most visited countries in the world?
___________________________________________________________________________________
Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing an article or photograph for publication.

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1. France 76.8 million visitors
2. United States 59.7 million visitors
3. China 55.7 million visitors
4. Spain 52.7 million visitors
5. Italy 43.6 million visitors
6. United Kingdom 28.1 million visitors
7. Turkey 27 million visitors
8. Germany 26.9 million visitors
9. Malaysia 24.6 million visitors
10. Mexico 22.4 million visitors
*Statistics from the UNWTO

China made the biggest jump passing Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom to reach third on the list. Another Asian country, Malaysia, is a surprising entry in the top ten most popular countries to visit. A past visit to Kuala Lumpur leads me to believe this is largely based on business travelers to the capital city. The rest of the list especially France, Spain, Italy, and the United States have been mainstays for many years.

Another important note from the UNWTO study was that world tourism arrivals went up this past year after dropping in the previous year. That was the first drop in overall tourism in the past two decades.

Check out this chart: Why do people travel?
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing an article or photograph for publication.

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Watch travel-related movies and read books set in foreign locations

Picking the right book or movie is a great way to get your kids interested in a particular location. Presenting a trip to Great Britain as a chance to explore some Harry Potter sites will be a lot more effective than focusing on Big Ben. Some other ideas are watching The Lion King before an African safari, Finding Nemo before a snorkeling trip to the Caribbean, and The Lord of the Rings for New Zealand sojourn.

Introduce foods by country

The dinner table is a great place to teach your kids about the rest of the world. Select at least one day a week for international or regional night. An upcoming trip to New Orleans means gumbo or beignets. A vacation to Italy means pizza or their favorite pasta. A hop over to Paris means sweet macarons. Trying different food at home will get your kids’ palate familiar with eating various meals. This makes it more likely that burgers and fries aren’t the only thing they’ll eat abroad.
Miniature Macarons © Stephanie Kilgast

Pick the right museums

There is no reason to skip a viewing of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre or The Starry Night at MoMa, but don’t expect your kids to be too excited by either. Consider a few museums like the American Museum of Natural History with its dinosaur collection, the National Air and Space Museum with its focus on aviation, or the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia. The latter encourages kids to touch and interact with their collections.

Animals!

Select locations that give your kids an opportunity to interact with wildlife. A few ideas are to go snorkeling off the coast of Honduras in the Bay Islands with its crystal blue waters and lots of aquatic life, visiting towns with petting zoos or animal sanctuaries, riding an elephant in Thailand or India, or getting up close and personal with the inhabitants of Tiger Island in Australia.
Giraffe © Gennaro Salamone

Visit natural wonders

Adults are not the only ones who are captivated by the natural beauty of the planet. Kids are more likely to appreciate a Grand Canyon rafting tour, viewing lions and cheetahs at the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya, or the lava flow of the volcanoes of Costa Rica with howler monkeys yelling in the background than visiting a big city that focuses on art galleries and upscale restaurants.

Let your kids bring a friend (especially teenagers)

Most of your traveling will be during school breaks. Most kids would prefer to hang out with their friends rather than travel to another country. This is especially true for teenagers. Consider taking one of their friends along for the trip. There are definite issues that arise ranging from cost to concern over the safety of someone’s child, but nothing can ruin a vacation more than a kid who misses their buds.

Editor’s note: This post contains affiliate links.
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Jia Chang is a travel and food writer. She enjoys wandering the globe with her husband and two children. Jia’s favorite places to travel include Western Australia, Central America, and France.

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Follow photographer Tracy Zhang’s journey, beyond the resorts and into the heart of Matanzas province:

Varadero is situated on a narrow peninsula that only measures 1.2 kilometers at its widest point. Its 20 kilometer long beach attracts more than 30,000 tourists during peak season. But the town is more than resorts. At the tip of the peninsula is a Varahicacos Ecological Reserve, home to 27 species of reptiles, 32 species of butterflies, natural caves, and even a 2000 year-old aboriginal burial site.

45 minutes away from Varadero is Matanzas, the capital city of Matanzas province. Matanzas is also known as the Venice of Cuba for its many bridges and rivers. As I sailed down the Canimar river, absorbed in the surrounding greenery, a group of children playing in the river caught my attention. After exchanging cheerful waves, the children began to sing Joseíto Fernández’s Guantanamera as the boat pulled away.

One of my most memorable experiences in Mantazas was diving into the refreshing waters of the Saturno Cave. At 150 meters long and 20 feet deep, this dark underwater world – my first cave-swimming experience – left me amazed at the wonders of nature.

While the beaches and caves left me in awe of nature, the city center of Matanzas brought out my curiosity about Cuban life. Old automobiles, overcrowded public buses, and horse-drawn wagons were all common modes of transportation. Houses with faded paint lined the narrow streets. Despite the beautiful scenery of Matanzas, I was also reminded of the country’s poverty.

One of the primary industries in Matanzas is agriculture. During the 19th century, the province was one of Cuba’s primary producers of sugar cane. During my trip, I had the chance to visit a banana and sugar cane farm located deep in the valleys. My day on the farm ended with fresh sugar cane juices made from a sugar cane crusher. As the host fed and re-fed the sugar canes through the machine, I watched the milky liquids flowed into a plastic pitcher. My mouth watered, knowing how sweet the beverage would be.

Photos © Tracy Zhang

Featured photo © Matthew Dillon
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Tracy Zhang is Canadian travel photographer. She loves to capture the cultural essence and natural beauty of her destinations. She has lived on 3 continents, traveled to 25 countries, but her favorite place to rest her head is still her quiet suburban home in British Columbia. She blogs about travel and photography at Tracy Zhang Photo.

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It’s striking that holiday tourism more than doubled business travel and VFR combined. In addition to the statistics related to purpose of tourism, the overall numbers showed a recovery for international tourism from the past couple of years along with the continued increase of air transport versus ground travel.

Read about how people travel.

 
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing an article or photograph for publication.

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The survey results may be attributed to women doing more of the cleaning and cooking at home. A Swedish researcher found that women are still expected to prioritize their homes and children because of deeply-rooted perceptions of gender roles, and conventional overnight work travel is not compatible with this norm. Regardless of the reasons for the findings, it would be smart of hotels that cater to women business travelers to take note.

Read about more women traveling solo.

Featured photo © Florian Lehmuth

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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing an article or photograph for publication.

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Follow this photographic journey featuring two of these fishermen:

Mekong River, Laos © Gennaro Salamone

The Mekong River plays a vital role in the economy of several Southeast Asian countries. Laos is particularly dependent upon it with all their major cities located on the river. Luang Prabang, a north-central city, is a interesting spot for a river voyage or to simply watch locals at work.

Fishermen, Luang Prabang © Gennaro Salamone

The best time to view the fishermen in action is early in the morning. This is when they catch fish for their families or to sell at the various markets. The men working on the river are very friendly, but rarely speak English. Learn a few Lao phrases to break the ice before asking to photograph them.

Fishermen, Luang Prabang © Gennaro Salamone

The condition of their equipment gives some insight into the economics of fishing on the Mekong. Local fisherman often use primitive gear that requires a lot of manual labor. That usually makes for a limited catch per day. The men in the photographs remained in the same spot for two hours. They caught six decent-sized fish.

Follow another photographic journey to Pushkar, India.
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing a travel article or photograph for publication.

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Butter Lane Cupcakes recently opened a Park Slope location after years in the East Village. Their French and American buttercream icing is extraordinary especially on top of a Sea Salted Chocolate cupcake. The general feel of the place is a lot better than the previous occupant — King of Cupcakes. There is a bench for two in front of the shop that might remind Sex and the City fans of the one Carrie and Miranda sat on in a July 2000 episode while munching on cupcakes and chatting about Carrie’s new crush on Aiden.

A little further down 7th Avenue is Crespella, which specializes in crepes, but is also a retailer for Robicelli’s cupcakes. Found in locations throughout the city, Robicelli’s has delectable flavors including S’Mores, cheesecake buttercream, and apricot chardonnay cake. For chocolate lovers, head over to Ladybird Bakery (formerly Two Little Red Hens Bakery) on 8th Avenue for their Brooklyn Blackout cupcake. It consists of chocolate cake, chocolate pudding, chocolate frosting, and lots of chocolate sprinkles across the top.

Read about the best chocolate in NYC or view tasty candy bar cupcakes.

 
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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing an article or photograph for publication.

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While visiting the island, it’s worth it to get up extra early at least once to see the happenings at Marsaxlokk. The fresh seafood and serene atmosphere in this area of Malta will make the old Polish saying “the shortest way to your heart is by the stomach” ring true.
Fisherman and his dog getting ready for the day © Kasia Tempes

You won’t be alone either. There are many tourists who come to observe this display of authentic activity by the Maltese people. Additionally, travelers have an opportunity to sample a variety of local fish including mussels, prawns, and the popular lampuki, which are delivered on the stands from the boats of Maltese fishermen. Fruit, vegetables, and souvenirs are also available.
Local Fish © Kasia Tempes

Between fish stands, colorful boats stand out rocking softly next to the shore. Locals crowd the area to examine the goods that fishermen coil in their nets. Merchants too rush around weighing and flaying the catch as customers wait.
Fish being prepared at the market © Kasia Tempes

If buying and preparing the fish yourself is too much of a hassle, the Marsaxlokk waterfront has a variety of seafood resturants to feed the influx of tourists in recent years.
Locals waiting for customers © Kasia Tempes

Featured © John Haslam
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Kasia Tempes is an aspiring photographer and journalist from Kraków, Poland. She loves to observe and photograph people in their everyday lives while traveling around the world. View Kasia’s photography on her website.

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1. The Innocents Abroad (Mark Twain)

The Innocents Abroad was Mark Twain’s witty account of a grand tour of Europe and the Holy Land with a group of travelers in the 1860s. Unlike his better known masterpiece, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain’s travel book is based on true events. Twain provides humorous and controversial observations about the people he encounters at each of the locations including Italy, France, and the Holy Land. In addition, Twain gives interesting insights into the human condition. He also pokes fun at elitism.

2. In a Sunburned Country (Bill Bryson)

Bill Bryson is one of the funnier modern-day travel writers. He manages to bring humor to his readers with a combination wit and thoughtful observations. In a Sunburned Country is one of the rare books that manages to poke fun at a country [Australia] and honor it as a great destination at the same time. Bryson’s run-ins with dangerous local animals and take on Australian rules football were particularly funny. 

3. Holidays in Hell: In Which Our Intrepid Reporter Travels to the World’s Worst Places and Asks, What’s Funny About This (P. J. O’Rourke)

Holidays in Hell follows the travels of P. J. O’Rourke to what he believes are the hellholes around the globe. Unlike Bryson, O’Rourke’s observations are harsh and won’t win him any friends in the countries he wrote about. If political and cultural opinions given in a no-holds-barred manner work for you — this travelogue will have you either laughing or steaming. Note that it was written in the 1980s so some of the material is dated.

4. Travels with Alice (Calvin Trillin)

Travels with Alice is one of the funnier travel book you’ve never heard of. While Trillin is a well-known humorist, this gem is his only foray into the travel genre. The book consists of fifteen essays that follow Trillin and his family as they travel in search of the elusive treasures of Europe and the Caribbean. It provides funny insights into traveling with family along with unique observations about each location. The Gelati Fever chapter was a favorite in the book.

5. The Clumsiest People in Europe (Todd Pruzan)

The Clumsiest People in Europe is more about laughing at the author and the time period than chuckling about the cultural slurs that are tossed around in this Victorian period children’s guide to the world by Favell Lee Mortimer. No country or group of people escaped the nastiness of Mrs. Mortimer from the French and Portuguese to the Australians and South Africans. Makes one happy to be living in the 21st century.
New York City subway © Jens Schott Knudsen

6. There’s No Toilet Paper on the Road Less Traveled (Doug Lansky, Editor)

The only collection on this list of funny travel books, There’s No Toilet Paper. . .on the Road Less Traveled is a nice way to gauge which writers give you belly laughs. The short stories range from Failing to Learn Japanese in Only Five Minutes to The Art of Riding a Third World Bus. Most of the stories are light hearted and focus on the mishaps of each writer verses culture judgements. The tale about getting locked in a Dutch bathroom is priceless.

7. Westward Ha! (S. J. Perelman)

Westward Ha! is a humorous jaunt around the world taken by S. J. Perelman (wrote for The New Yorker) and caricaturist Al Hirschfeld. Perelman’s command of the English syntax is astonishing and the addition of Hirschfeld’s art will have you smirking throughout.

8. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)

Far from a traditional travel guide, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is considered to be the funniest science fiction book ever written. Penned by Douglas Adams, this adventure follows Arthur Dent, an average British citizen, on a myriad of space adventures. Travelers will get a kick out of the crazy and thought-provoking situations that Dent finds himself in throughout the book. Too bad we can’t all put a Babel fish in our ear to allow the brain to understand every language in the universe.

Editor’s note: This post contains affiliate links.

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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing an article or photograph for publication.

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Step-by-Step Process: How to Make Homemade Wine

Step One: Gathering the Equipment

Purchasing the right equipment is the first step to making homemade wine. It requires:

An initial fermentation container that is big enough to hold your crushed grapes. It needs to be a high quality plastic container. Modern versions have a drainage nozzle, which makes it easier to transfer the wine juice to the long-term fermentation jugs.

Long-term fermentation containers (carboys or demijohns) that can be glass jugs or oak barrels. The former tends to be more consistent year-to-year. Depending on your batch of wine the sizes can range from 1 to 15 gallons.
Grape Crusher + Ratchet Basket Grape Press © Gennaro Salamone

Plastic tubing that’s at least 6 feet long is required for transferring the juice between containers.

A manual or motorized grape crusher (de-stemmer optional) is needed for squashing the grapes.

A ratchet basket grape press and pressure discs are necessary to squeeze the remaining juice from the grapes in the primary fermentation container.

While some add yeast or tablets, this process doesn’t use additives.

Plastic buckets are required to capture wine from the press and to move the grapes from the initial fermentation container to the press.

A funnel with a strainer is needed to transfer grape juice from the buckets to the demijohns.

Enough cases of grapes to meet your needs are also necessary.

Step Two: Preparing the Equipment

Prepare a large space that will fit your initial fermentation containers, a basket grape press, and the cases of grapes. You will also need an electrical outlet if using a motorized grape crusher. Be sure to wash all of your equipment and to open the cases of grapes and inspect to make sure that the fruit is healthy and ready to be crushed.

Step Three: Crushing the Grapes and Initial Fermentation Container

Place the manual or motorized grape crusher over the initial fermentation container, which is at least a foot off the ground. One person will be ensuring that the machine is in place and another will be responsible for dumping the cases of grapes into the crusher. Fill the container and leave at least a foot of space at the top. The grapes will stay in this container for about a week. Be sure to use a cover. A sheet or similar will do. Be sure to use a closed space.
Homemade wine © Gennaro Salamone

Step Four: Secondary Fermentation and Transfer to the Secondary Containers

Transfer the wine juice to the secondary fermentation container. If you’re using a modern high quality plastic container for the initial fermentation then simply place a bucket under the drainage nozzle. If not, use a plastic tube from the grape-filled container to the buckets. Place the funnel with the strainer into the demijohn and pour the buckets of grape juice into it. Do not fill them up. An airlock will be need for the secondary container for extended fermentation. Start with paper towels for a day or so then use an actual airlock device. The wine juice will remain in these jugs for at least 4-6 months. It’s best to store it in a cool and dark place.

Step Five: Bottling and Drinking

Once the fermentation process has been completed, you are free to bottle the wine. Rack or siphon off the sediments from the wine using a plastic tube while transferring it to the bottles. Cap tightly. At this point, the vinification process has been completed and it’s ready to drink.

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Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing an article or photograph for publication.

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It’s not just travelers who are benefiting from the innovations by the leading car rental companies. Newer companies such as Zipcar are attempting to shift urban centers from car owners and renters to car-sharing members. Their hope is that major cities around the globe will embrace their on-demand mobility model. While this is a popular method in European cities, it will be more difficult to push through in the United States where car ownership is ingrained in the culture. That said, an emphasis on being green has taken afoot in certain segments of the population.

For the companies that didn’t perform well in the survey such as Dollar and Thrifty, it would benefit them to re-evaluate their products and services as it will prevent them from being associated with the worst car rental companies.

Featured photo ©  Hakan Dahlstrom 

___________________________________________________________________________________
Gennaro Salamone is the founder and editor of Enduring Wanderlust. Feel free to contact him with questions, comments, or inquiries with reference to contributing an article or photograph for publication.

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