maria russo
Want To Know Where The Best Beach In The U.S. Is? Read On
It’s a terrible thing to say, but I usually detest going to beaches in the U.S. Many are crowded, dirty, and littered with rows of obnoxious high-rise buildings and condos. I know, I must sound like a very grumpy person, but as a traveler who has ventured to (and is very thankful for) protected beaches […]
Licking Like A Local In Antigua, Guatemala (Ice Cream, That Is)
Guatemalans love ice cream. Well, at least in Antigua they do. At every turn, the historic city’s cobblestone streets seem to be crawling with people licking drippy cones of sugary frozen cream topped with a dollop of syrupy strawberry goodness. And it made me want it — like really want it — all the time. […]
Krabi’s Peaceful Rhythms
The limestone steps were nearly vertical at some points, each varying in length and width, distorting my perception of depth, and causing me to stumble like a lame bird. I peered over the edge and sighed at the lush landscape of verdant highlands almost 800 feet below; a magnificent view of coconut palms, rubber trees […]
The Pulse (Or Lack Thereof) Of Boipeba, Brazil
Brazil. The word alone conjures visions of dark-haired, curvy women, swaying to samba in the sultry heat of a mid-summer’s night, clinging to their equally gorgeous counterparts on the coarse sands of Copacabana beach. The country just sort of exudes this sexy, vibrant, beautiful vibe to the average pale-faced foreigner, creating a seductive allure that […]
Eco-Tourism Boom In Koh Kong Bringing Big Changes To Cambodia
One disheartening aspect of travel is the uncertain fate of many of the places we visit. The growing trend of privatization and destruction of national parks, tribal land, and rainforests is such a sad reality that I can’t help but wonder: “When will we get that this is all we have?” Soon there will be […]
Exploring India’s Golden Triangle Is So Hardcore
Exploring India is hardcore, and the most jaded of travelers will tell you so. The cacophonous sounds, pungent smells, melange of colors, and unnerving division between rich and poor screams chaos and curiosity. It’s that fusion of wonder and too much of everything that that makes a trip to this vibrant country so intriguing. In […]
Q&A: GRAMMY Nominee Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon Speaks From Her Soul
Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon is proving to the world that it is possible to live out your passion, even if it means clearing the path to success a little later in life. As a distinguished leader in the financial sector, and a 2011 GRAMMY nominee for her album, Om Namo Narayanaya: Soul Call (on Soul Chants […]
The Tourist Footprint: Are We Ruining Earth’s Natural Wonders?
Much of what we read about travel is packaged into a descriptive personal essay that seeks to sweep the reader to a magical land where cotton candy falls from the sky and unicorns roam undulating; verdant hills leading to an ethereal Eden. And let’s face it, most of us enjoy reading a romantic story about […]
Would You Travel Around The World For Food?
Would you fly halfway around the world just for a meal? I suppose if you would, no ordinary experience would do. No, this meal would have to be overwhelming, exploding with flavor and seductive in every bite; to put it simply: it would have to be orgasmic. I often speak with travelers who admit to […]
The Spirit Of Havana: From Rations To Restaurants
It’s the time of year when New York City, with its formidable brilliance, becomes softer, intimate; enchanting if you will, and I’ve never felt more grateful to have it at my doorstep. The city seems gentler in December — lights strewn from one avenue to the next exude the warm glow of holiday cheer, savory […]