A Princess Returns as Sea Worms: Nyale Festival, Lombok

I set my alarm for 3:45 am. I woke up and quickly gathered my things- camera, phone, water, and headlamp, then climbed onto my motorbike. Normally, everything is quiet at that hour, but as...

Thaipusam at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated across Hindu communities of the world. Each has variations in its tradition, but its reason is to celebrate Lord Murugan (the son of Shiva) upon his receipt of-...

Melaka, Malaysia: A Paradise for (Gluten-Free) Food Lovers!

Quick links: Restoran Nyonya Makko Wild Coriander Aunty Lee's Peranakan Restaurant Calanthe Art Cafe Sayyid Antique & Cafe Chicken Rice Balls Nasi Lemak Jonker Street Hawker Center Assam Pedas Weekend Night Market Cendol Ondeh Ondeh Malacca (or "Melaka" in Melayu) is a small city on the west...

A Look at Life in the Rice Fields of Sumatra

Next to the jungle hills of North Sumatra lies Gotongroyong village. Most visitors will pass by this place on their way to Bukit Lawang, where jungle trekking is the main attraction. Travelers may admire...

Beekeeping in the Bush

It was dusk, a time when the bees are less aggressive, and the sun was quickly on its way down. Our mission was to venture "into the bush" to recollect beehives that had previously...

Where village life meets wild life

Bulati Village is a Maasai village in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania. Unlike the Serengeti National Park, which lies adjacently north, natives from the area are aloud to live within the conservation. This...

Sangau Sweki: a Maasai “Oloiboni”

In East Africa there is no shortage of mysticism, rumor, and story surrounding herbal medicine. It brings both awe and fear- reports of magical healings and tales of terrible curses. In Tanzania, a country...

Meet Seychelles oldest herbalist- 82 year old Ferdinand Vidot.

In the middle of the Indian Ocean, 1000 miles off the coast of Kenya, lies the exotic archipelago of the Seychelles. Its largest island- Mahé- feels like a mountain range surging up from the...

Roots of Resourcefulness

For the past 6 months I have been living in Ololosokwan- a Maasai village in Northern Tanzania, immediately beside the Serengeti National Park and just below the border of Kenya. The fascinating traditions of...

Jewelry Development with Maasai Women in Tanzania

I knew that I wanted to travel abroad. But I was not sure where I wanted to go and for what purpose. While contemplating these ideas from Rhode Island, I received a message from...