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It’s midmorning. The sun hovers just above the trees, and the air is crisp with island humidity. Down a dirt road thick with mud and glistening from the water left by last night’s rainfall stands a 12-by-8-foot building. It is a tiny school in a village called Vunato at the edge of Lautoka, Fiji.

You step up into the airplane and think you’ve stepped back in time. The three strangers in line with you make a valiant effort at small talk, but no words can mask the buzz of excitement and nerves. As you duck your head and climb awkwardly into the aircraft, you’re suddenly aware of how small it really is—there’s room for only four passengers on this plane.

Travel has been steadily increasing for the past several years. Whether it’s for business or pleasure, education or social media posts, travel seems to be a part of everyone’s lives nowadays. But should it be?

A lot can happen in 10 years. For Stowaway, 10 years consisted of 30 issues and thousands of adventures. We’ve been all across the globe and far into space. Throughout all our travels, there have been many trends between our travels and the world’s travels.The following is a recap of where we’ve traveled as Stowaway by year in a side-by-side comparison with the locations that were popular tourist spots around the world that year.2010 In 2010, Stowaway explored Beijing and Southern Asia, including Vietnam and India. We got lost in the London Underground, at the top of a mountain in Estes Park, and in other national parks around the US. We also road tripped through Arizona and visited Ireland.The top eight places to travel worldwide in 2010, according to The New York Times, were Sri Lanka; Patagonia; Seoul; Mysore, India; Copenhagen; Koh Kood, Thailand; Damascus; and Çeşme, Turkey.2011 In 2011, Stowaway explored New Zealand, learned safety hacks for whether we travel to somewhere cold and snowy or hot and sunny, and went to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio—the roller coaster capital of the world.We got to our ideal weight when we biked across the US and learned the Brazilian martial art of capoeira. We also celebrated Bon Om Tuk, went to Paris, learned about leprosy in India, explored the Norwegian Coast, spent some time away in Ecuador, and discovered Havasupai.The top eight places to travel worldwide in 2011, according to CNN, were New York, New Zealand, the Peruvian Amazon, Barcelona, Norway, Albania, Japan, and Guatemala.2012 In 2012, Stowaway stowed away to Prague, got a taste of Istanbul, got lost in Iceland, kayaked to the Bahamas, visited George Lucas on the set of Star Wars, explored the history of Boston, and became stranded on New Caledonia.We also discovered the many wonders of Tokyo, learned the mythical sport of globe-riding (more commonly known as zorbing), learned how to fall like an expert, trekked through a safari, and reconnected with our roots.The top trending eight places to travel worldwide, according to CNN, were England, Mayan ruins, Myanmar, Chicago, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Netherlands, Atlantic Canada, and Uruguay.2013 In 2013, Stowaway blessed the lives of orphans through service, made a pilgrimage to Camino, explored the beauties of Kazakhstan, found some hobbits in New Zealand, stayed the night in the Caribbean at Xcaret, explored many castles in ruin in Wales, and discovered local culture from people in their hometowns.We also made a trip to Paraguay, saw the Golden Temple in Harmandir Sahib, went to High Line Park in New York City, explored Sedona, partied with Sweden during their Midsommar festival, found our way to Cape Town, relaxed in Bali, and fought AIDS in Uganda.The top 8 travel sites worldwide in 2013, according to CNN, were Scotland, Morocco, Slovakia, sub-Saharan Africa, Gettysburg, Amsterdam, Columbia, and Montenegro.2014 In 2014, Stowaway learned about how the Korean culture is taking the world by storm, celebrated the Hindu festival of colors, visited Sochi for the Winter Olympics, rebuilt New Orleans, found bones in Malagasy, discovered reasons to remain in Romania, and used races as an excuse to travel.We also made a pilgrimage to Camino, went to FIFA in Brazil, ate pasta in Italy, visited Fiji, explored Mayazaki’s Japan, saw Alaska from above, took a road trip to discover how the New Deal affected the US, pieced together Mayan murals in San Bartolo, discovered the Anasazi, went to Armenia, and explored the history of faith in America.The top eight worldwide travel spots in 2014 were, according to CNN, Brazil, Panama, Myanmar, Iceland, Ecuador, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and Japan.2015In 2015, Stowaway escaped to Berlin and hid out in Mar del Plata, Argentina. We learned cool facts at museums of science around the world, survived a disaster in Cairo, and discovered treasure in the Rocky Mountains.We also spent Christmas in Germany, went stargazing in Parowan Canyon, trekked back to New Zealand to visit George Lucas when Star Wars: The Force Awakens came out, and traveled to some historical sites to visit open-air museums.The top eight worldwide travel sites of 2015 were, according to CNN, London, Bangkok, Paris, Dubai, Istanbul, New York, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur.2016 In 2016, Stowaway ventured into the Antarctic, explored the sites of inspiration for the most popular Disney movies, visited mosques around the world, tracked wolves in Yellowstone, and sojourned in the Baltic. We found hope at the House of Terror, the killing fields of Cambodia, Pearl Harbor, and Auschwitz.We also explored the mystical wonders of Turkey, slept in some unique spots around the world, floated down the Nile and other rivers in Africa, visited national parks, explored space, witnessed the effect of tourism in Nicaragua, Kenya, and Vietnam, found new places to pet animals, visited some neat pop culture locations, and ate at some unique restaurants.Top eight travel spots worldwide in 2016, according to CNN: Bangkok, London, Paris, Dubai, New York, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Istanbul.2017 In 2017, Stowaway got lost in Glacier National Park, traveled with Blackbeard, tarried awhile in Perth, skied at Verbier, crashed in Qatar, spent a night in Boston, became an immersive traveler, visited sinking villages in New Zealand, trekked to the monuments of war heroes, and considered colonizing Mars.The top eight travel locations that were trending worldwide in 2017, according to CNN, were Prince Edward Island; Penang, Malaysia; Colombia; Bermuda; Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine; Isaan, Thailand; Bhutan; and Chengdu, China.2018 In 2018, Stowaway found some abandoned sites with abounding beauty, traveled the world with toddlers, saved a Bolivian mining town, considered the effects of voluntourism, and witnessed Japan’s declining population in the wake of rising tourism.We also returned to Yellowstone, visited places that may be swallowed by the ocean in a few years, traveled while taking a break before starting a master’s program, stood on both hemispheres in Ecuador, visited the Royal sites in the United Kingdom, and found a job that can travel with us.Top eight travel locations around the world in 2018, according to CNN: Cape Verde; Botum Sakor National Park, Cambodia; Malta; Serbia; Nevis; Banff, Canada; Nagana, Japan; and Puebla, Mexico.2019 In 2019, Stowaway listened to music in Africa, found thrills in Transylvania, discovered stolen art, became immersed in South Korea, toured sites with a dark past, became lost in Jerusalem, worried about bee colonies, and celebrated the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.We also saw how a movie has changed tourism in Iceland and other forgotten tourism spots, fell asleep to bedtime stories from around the world, learned to cook without gluten, found some interesting vending machines in Japan, and explored how travel affects climate change.The top eight travel sites that were trending worldwide in 2019 were, according to CNN, Christchurch, New Zealand; Egypt; Fukuoka, Japan; Ghana; Grand Canyon, US; Hawaii, US; the Hebrides, Scotland; and Jaffa, Israel.Future of Travel Travel will continue to change, and while there is no way to really predict the hottest cities in future years, I’m sure that some of the same locations will be popular with tourists and that there will be a mix of many exciting new locations as well.Travel will continue to evolve as we evolve; all we have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. Safe travels!—Beverly Unrau

Looking for a place to go that’s historical but that can still party? Germany is that place, especially since this year, 2019, was the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.It came as a shock to even some of the Germans when the wall fell because the wall had lasted for over two decades. German teenagers and some young adults never knew anything different. The Berlin Wall divided a city and a country and prevented recovery from World War II after being erected basically overnight in 1961.Since the wall’s fall on November 9, 1989, celebrations and festivities have been held every year to commemorate the rise of democracy and freedom.Der Mauerfall, as the fall of the Berlin Wall is called in German, came as a surprise to Sandra Ehlert, a native German who was visiting both West and East Berlin about three weeks before the momentous Mauerfall.However, Laura Rawlins, an American working for a family as part of a Brigham Young University internship in Berlin before the Mauerfall, could see the inklings of protests.History of a Divided Berlin, the Wall, and Revolution Surrounding West Berlin, the Berlin Wall effectively kept Easterners, who occupied East Germany and East Berlin, from escaping the USSR to freedom in West Berlin, which was occupied by the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.The wall itself was made of concrete panels 3.6 meters high (about 12 feet), topped with barbed wire. There was a strip of land next to the Eastern Wall: a no-man’s-land that crawled with guards, police dogs, and alarms; as well as a second wall, the Western Wall, that people could walk right up to. However, the guard towers on the two walls easily made people wary.“A lot of people died trying to flee East Berlin,” Sandra said, confirming all the fears that one could have. Nearly 140 East Berliners died trying to cross. “They had to be really determined,” explained Laura regarding those that tried to cross.The wall was built in the midst of the Cold War between the USSR and the US as a way for the USSR to prevent fleeing, as well as to assert its dominance.In the June of 1948, the USSR closed all incoming roads, canals, and trains from West Germany into West Berlin, forcing the Berlin Airlift to commence. Nearly two years’ worth of airlifted food, supplies, and medicine—a total of more than 2.3 million tons (2.3 Tg)—was lifted into the allies’ sectors of the city.From Their View Sandra was 16 years old when she went from her home in Hamm, near Münster in Western Germany, to Berlin on a school trip. She and her fellow students had to take a train to the divided city: beginning with a steam engine through West Germany, switching the steam engine for a diesel one through East Germany, then replacing the original steam engine once they reached West Berlin.Because there had been different currency between the two parts of the capital, Sandra explained, they had to exchange their money.“But then, you then had to donate your money at the border,” she continued, “because you weren’t allowed to have East German things in the West.” Laura, who was 18 during her first visit to Berlin for her internship, confirmed the same thing: “The woman of the family I was working for had picked up all these things and hid them in the back of our car. Had I known that, I would have been more terrified, because as we were going back to the West, they actually pulled the seats out of the car . . . . We could have gotten in a lot of trouble.”Sandra grew up in West Germany and defined herself as a West German, so when she was young, she saw the Mauerfall as an impossibility. “Most of all, unreal,” Sandra said, explaining her feelings about the Mauerfall. “ what I found so interesting: There was absolutely no indication whatsoever that this would happen just a few weeks later.”Laura even said, during her internship, that “ was really strange to think that you’re in this medieval city where you were walled in. It was sobering to see the wall for the first time.” Looking back at the Mauerfall, “it was completely unbelievable,” said Laura.Yearly Celebrations If you want to visit Berlin for the celebration of the Mauerfall, then plan your trip for October, instead of November: Germans have a national holiday on October 3, which was the designated Unity Day set in 1990. Most of the celebrations happen around this day, especially because October 3 is also Oktoberfest.Due to the brutal massacre of Jews by Nazis, called Kristallnacht, on November 9, 1938, there is not a national holiday on the day the Mauerfall occurred. It was deemed inappropriate to have such large-scale celebrations on the anniversary of such an inhumane day.The Unity Day celebrations this year were mainly held in Kiel, near the northern border with Denmark, but it was celebrated throughout the country. Mainly consisting of festivals, fireworks, and speeches, German Unity Day is a day that no one would want to miss. Each state celebrates it slightly differently, so do some research before traveling.However, the small festivities were easily overshadowed by Berlin’s week-long celebration—the week leading up to the Mauerfall on November 9.The 7 Days, 7 Locations program was held in seven main attractions throughout the entire city: Alexander Plaza, Gethsemane Church, Brandenburg Gate, Schloss Plaza, Kurfürstendamm, the East Side Gallery, and the Stasi Headquarters.These locations are beautiful and historical year-round, but during the 7 Days, 7 Locations activities, each of the locations were lit up with fireworks, concerts, film showings, and more in over 200 events.The art installation called “Vision in Motion” was strewn in a canopy down the Straße des 17. Juni (the 17th of June Street), leading up to the Brandenburg Gate. It consisted of blue and yellow ribbons written with the hopes of thirty thousand people for the future. Likewise, the East Side Gallery and Alexander Plaza projected images and videos onto the surrounding buildings of the oppressed Easterners and onto the Peaceful Protests that occurred before the Mauerfall.The Instagram of the event, @mauerfall30, shows photos and videos of the construction, preparation, and celebration of it all.Visit and Celebrate Today Even today, there are still differences between East and West Berlin; “it’s still so obvious to me,” said Laura.Be sure to visit both sides of Germany and Berlin to really get a feel for the division and conflict that developed their different cultures.Today, the longest intact piece of the Wall is the East Side Gallery (at about 1.3 kilometers/0.81 miles long) which was converted into an open-air museum in September 1990. Immediately after the Mauerfall, artists from over twenty countries came and started painting the wall, leaving it full of life as well as sometimes being satirical.Pieces of the Wall were also partitioned off as signs of peace from Germany to other countries of the world. Therefore, there are parts scattered around the world: the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, South Korea, and even the Vatican.From the memorials of the Mauerfall to the places of the Peaceful Revolution, there are plenty of places to see and visit in Berlin, but everywhere you go, you can feel the words “Ich bin ein Berliner,” spoken by President Kennedy, resonating through the air. Mainly, it is a place to reflect on freedom and unity, and a place to get a Berliner donut.—Kaitlyn Meyers

Is diversity as inevitable as it is important? Because of the various definitions, multiculturalism can be difficult to define. Most seem to agree that multiculturalism is information from in-group and out-group members that affects how people behave. Multiculturalism is the result of migration and cultural change over time. No individual culture is ever static and unchanging; there is always constant change and adaptation. As travel has become more accessible and common, more people are starting to immigrate to different parts of the world. Often times, diverse cultures are found throughout a country or within a city.In sociology, multiculturalism is the end state of a country or community. Some metaphors that are used are “melting pot,” which implies that all cultures are a mix of other cultures; “cultural mosaic,” which implies that distinct cultures are well integrated into a society but maintain their uniqueness; and “salad bowl,” which implies that cultures different from the majority culture do not integrate but maintain their own cultural identity.For example, the United States is often referred to as a melting pot. This is partially because multiculturalism is not clearly defined at the federal level but ethnic diversity exists in both rural and urban areas. In other words, immigrants usually keep certain aspects of their cultures—especially in their own communities—but can be considered fully American and also adopt certain American values and behaviors.Cultural pluralism is another way in which communities become more diverse, and in everyday language, it closely fits the salad bowl metaphor: smaller groups within a larger society keep their individual cultural identities, values, and practices. Canada, for example, is often described as a salad bowl society. The dominant culture in salad bowl societies is usually accepting of these different values, even if they are somewhat similar.Reactions to MulticulturalismWhen people are exposed to the idea of multiculturalism, they become more willing to accept multiculturalism within society. Most schools try to teach children about multiculturalism as early as possible, and in recent years, these efforts have been intensified.It is estimated that the 46 million Americans ages 14 to 24 are the most diverse generation in American society, so it is more important than ever to teach young children, whose generation is potentially even more diverse, to tolerate and appreciate different kinds of cultures. According to the US census, as of 2015, 40 percent of Americans identify as non-white. In 2010, that number was only 38 percent. As this percentage increases, it is expected that more people will welcome societal diversity.However, this will not always be the case. I interviewed a middle-aged woman who has lived in Orem, Utah, for most of her life. (She wanted to remain anonymous.) When I asked her for her opinion about the changing demographics of Orem, she said, “Orem got more populated and more diverse. More houses had to be built, and we lost a lot of the orchards and farms we had. We also had to build bigger buildings, and many people lost their homes because of it.”In the Orem woman's opinion, it is “not a good thing” because it increases the population, which can have drastic consequences like the ones mentioned previously. Her perspective brought to light some potential issues with multiculturalism that I had not considered. Perhaps there are negative consequences of diversity that are often ignored. However, it is also important to note that overpopulation can happen in communities with little diversity without immigration.Many cultures are conservative in that they tend to resist change. Some resist to a greater degree than others by creating laws to preserve tradition and make it harder for alien ideas and practices to enter in. In France, the government banned English words that are used in products, especially if the word has a French equivalent. This is not entirely surprising, considering that French used to be the lingua franca, or global language. However, the government is struggling to eradicate English use because young people continue to use English words like “sandwich” and “computer.”Some cultures, however, are very accepting of and open to change. Ever since 1980, the people of China have been using American technology, such as cell phones and television, and have adopted American culture in everyday life. McDonald’s has been very popular and has opened 560 restaurants in China and will soon be opening 100 more. KFC is even more popular: 1,000 stores opened, 100 of them being in the capital! Even less popular food chains such as Taco Bell, A&W, and Pizza Hut are also gaining traction in China. In 2003, China made learning English a requirement for all children in the country. This instruction begins when students are in third grade. These children will look to American TV shows and movies to maintain their English skills, and this will likely spread westernization.Some people believe multiculturalism can lead to egalitarianism. Evidence from a study done at Berkley that suggests people in diverse communities are kinder and see themselves as part of a worldwide culture.In short, cultural diversity starts when the members of a community are open to having other cultures represented in their culture. Indeed, diversity is as inevitable as it is important.—Marissa Faulkner

Africa is a magical place where nature roams free alongside history and modernity. Among all of this rich culture flows life-giving rivers and waterfalls. Flowing through different environments, these unique rivers have provided man’s oldest ancestors with life and still provide for today’s current residents. Travel with us to Africa where we will flow down the Nile, across Victoria Falls, and over the Orange, Limpopo, Niger, and Congo Rivers to discover what this great continent has to offer.

A large map of the world, plastered with clusters of brightly-colored sewing pins, hangs in the home of 73-year-old Myrna Towers. Each pin marks a place that Towers, her husband, Dave, or one of their six children has visited. Myrna and Dave have traveled extensively, and have lived in Great Britain, Cambodia, and Hong Kong. What the map does not show, however, is where they have slept on their travels. A cabin on the African savanna, a chateau in the Alps, and a hut in Mexico are only a few. “If you stay in Best Westerns everywhere you go, you’ll have a very typical trip,” says Towers. They are always on the alert for rare lodging opportunities.

We all dreamed about hunting for treasure when we were little. We would get on the playground and pretend we were sailing on the deep-blue sea, searching for lost islands full of unimaginable riches. Somehow treasure hunts were fascinating to us as kids, and even as we grow older we seem to find excitement in discovering hidden goods. Yet we tell ourselves that we will never actually come across a chest deep in a cave, that there is no buried gold on the bottom of the ocean floor, that there is no red x marking the spot where we will uncover a lifetime of wealth. But what if, somewhere in a mountain range, there really is a treasure chest waiting to be discovered? Anyone visiting the Rocky Mountains really could end up walking away with a chest full of gold.An Invitation from Forrest FennSo how did this treasure end up in the Rockies? Forrest Fenn, an eighty-four-year-old currently residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has the answer. Back in 1988, Forrest was diagnosed with cancer. His prognosis? Less than a 20 percent chance of living for three years. Forrest decided that he wanted a way to leave a legacy behind if he was going to die. Additionally, he wanted to encourage children and adults to go out, get into the mountains, and explore the outdoors. He aimed to “give a man and his wife a reason to get the kids out.” So he planned a treasure hunt. Turquoise beads are just one treasure to be discovered in the Rockies. Photo by B. Jefferson Bolnder. CCHowever, it took Forrest fifteen years (well past his projected three-year allotment) to actually bury the treasure. He had to purchase the chest, collect the gold to put into the chest, and make the trip to bury the chest once it was full. And, most importantly, Forrest had to set up clues. He wrote the book The Thrill of the Chase, which talks about much of his life growing up and some of the experiences he had as a kid. Forrest also included a poem written specifically for the purpose of aiding interested readers in finding his hidden treasure.An Unsolved PuzzleForrest hid the treasure in 2010, in the Rocky Mountains somewhere between Santa Fe and the Canadian border. He said that he hid it in a place that is very important to him and that it only took him about two seconds to decide where to hide the chest. He then published the poem, which will supposedly lead readers straight to the treasure, assuming they interpret the clues correctly. However, previous searchers have looked extensively throughout the Rockies over the past five years, and the treasure still has not been found to Forrest’s or anyone else’s knowledge. (Yellowstone National Park seems to be a popular site for hunters.)But to Forrest Fenn, the treasure hunt isn’t about somebody lucky finding a chest full of gold. The hunt is about enjoying nature, seeking adventure, and getting into the mountains with the possibility—though no guarantee—of a huge reward. Forrest says that “we’re a sedentary people today” and that the most rewarding part of the treasure hunt for him is when people contact him and tell him about the great experiences they’ve had getting out into the mountains searching for the treasure, especially when it involves their kids. He likes the idea that his book is impacting people’s lives and that people are seeking entertainment from the outdoors rather than from television screens and gaming systems. He added that he hopes his book will “give people a reason to do something different with their lives.” It took Forrest fifteen years to gather all of the gold and jewels to put in his treasure chest before hiding it in the Rockies. Photo by Mykl Roventine. CCA Guide for SearchersWhile adventure and fun await hunters in the mountains, the treasure itself seems to be much more enticing to searchers. So how can interested parties seek the treasure? Obviously there is no sure answer, or else the chest would have been found by now. However, there are some ways that individuals can increase their chances of locating the mysterious chest. Forrest suggests that before searching for the treasure, those interested in looking should read his book The Thrill of the Chase, and especially his poem that goes with it. He has also written “scrapbooks” (similar to blog posts) and another book, Too Far to Walk, both of which may be helpful in providing readers with additional clues about the treasure’s location. His scrapbooks can be found at dalneitzel.com.Additionally, Forrest recommends that those wanting to look for the treasure be prepared both mentally and physically. He said that searchers should have a definite plan in mind and know what they’re doing and where they’re going rather than looking blindly for the treasure. Searchers should have a map, proper clothing, food, water, and any other equipment that may be necessary or useful on a trek through the Rocky Mountains. Reminding readers that this hunt can be packed full of adventure, Forrest advises searchers to be prepared for everything “from grizzly bears to fast running water and bluffs that drop off a thousand feet.”Forrest also emphasized that anyone wishing to find the treasure has to be motivated. Nobody is going to just happen upon the treasure chest. Searchers should do their research and study potential locations before attempting to locate the treasure.Finally, Forrest’s treasure hunt is not for the faint of heart. Rather, it is for anyone wishing to find excitement and adventure in the beautiful and historic Rocky Mountains. Forrest points out that “the mountains are full of excitement . . . and every place you look there’s something to be learned.”An Opportunity for AdventureWhether searchers strike it rich or not, Forrest’s treasure hunt is continually providing motivated people with an opportunity to experience nature. “You don’t have to ride a horse for four months to experience what’s out there,” Forrest said. Planning a trip to the Rockies can be rewarding for individuals, couples, and families regardless of whether they locate the treasure or not. Forrest hopes that people, especially those who haven’t spent much time in nature before, take this chance to get outdoors and have fun, with the possibility of finding a chest full of gold. One of Forrest Fenn’s main motivations for setting up this treasure hunt was to get people, especially kids, off their couches and out into nature. Yellowstone National Park has been a popular site for seekers of Fenn’s treasure. Photo by Julie Falk. CCSo do you think you have what it takes? Read Forrest’s poem, solve the puzzle, grab a map, and start looking! (However, Forrest also advises not searching in the winter, so maybe wait until spring.) “Everybody likes treasures, everybody likes gold, and everybody likes to read stories about pirates and Robin Hood, and to me it all ties into the same thing. It’s all being outdoors,” Forrest remarked. The hunt for Forrest Fenn’s treasure is a great, family-friendly opportunity to search for something worth more than its weight in gold—as valuable as the treasure is, the memories formed and the adventures found while searching for the treasure will be priceless.—Shanna ClaytonFeature image by Andrew E. Russell. CC

The Whooping Crane is one of the rarest birds in America. Photo by Evangelio Gonzalez. ccWhen winter arrives in Texas, it doesn't come alone. As the new season approaches, hundreds of migratory species, from whooping cranes to monarch butterflies, migrate into Texas, blanketing the Great Plains. Adding to the commotion of winter's arrival are Texas's summer residents, such as the Mexican free-tailed bats, who prepare to darken Texas skies on their way home to Mexico. These wondrous migrations, whether northbound or southbound, paint surreal images that cause spectators to stop and enjoy nature's beautiful creations. By Weston Goggins

Oldest in the Maya World

Traveling the countryside of the tiny country of Armenia seems like it should be an easy task. After all, the whole country is smaller than the state of Maryland and is utterly dwarfed by its neighbors, Turkey, Iran, and Georgia. But it is surprising how much you’ll find in such a small area. And the capital city, Yerevan, is just as fascinating as its rural surroundings.

Generally, multiple infants share a single hospital bed.Nicole Shaw narrowed her eyes at the boy standing in front of her, ignoring his taunting friends. Nicole’s fellow interns grabbed at her shirt from behind, attempting to pull her away, afraid she might lose her cool. The boys had been harassing the interns, and Nicole had had enough.

Eight years after Hurricane Katrina, some areas of New Orleans are completely restored. “You would have never guessed that Uptown New Orleans, the Garden District, or downtown had even been affected by the hurricane,” says resident Freddie Hanson. “Parts of the city in the East and Ninth Ward, though, have barely come back, if at all. They still look like ground zero or a war zone.”

Malagasy carry the body of a deceased relative as they participate in the turning of the bones.With one final cut into mortar and clay, the crypt falls open, the gathered family watching in near-silence. Tears fill the eyes of some; others have smiles on their faces. Two men disappear into the tomb and return carrying a bundle wrapped in linens. They carry the body of one of the men’s grandmothers.