Bangladesh: Beneath Bonbibi’s Protection
“Putt, putt, putt,” went the diesel engine as our small boat crawled across the crowded Pasur River. We were moving slower than a person could walk. Our hotel wasn’t far on the map, but it was a two-hour journey from the pier at Mongla. Turning into a narrow channel, we entered the Sundarbans. River…
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Bangladesh: Even Sleep Offered No Escape
I pride myself on my ability to sleep on road trips, but today I’m wide awake. It has nothing to do with the skills of my driver, Hridoy, who navigated us out of Dhaka this morning. The reason I can’t fall asleep is the incessant honking that has rattled my brain nonstop since arriving in…
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Malta: Knights & Nightclubs
Not every country can be a winner in a journey around the world. Have you ever not liked a place from the moment you arrived? Such was the case for me with Malta. To be fair, Malta was disadvantaged from the start. Our trip there had been much longer than expected, and by the time…
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Nigeria: Exploring Hausa Heritage
Back at the pits, I feign disinterest as I’m offered various fabrics. Everyone knows I’m not leaving without buying, so it’s only a matter of time before I purchase two large pieces of expertly dyed cloth. A tangible connection to an ancient art.
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Nigeria: Makoko – Where the Streets Are Water
Long before we can see them, we hear them, hundreds of elementary students enthusiastically welcoming us to their neighborhood. Even at a distance their energy is infectious and as we approach the school the faces of our entire group, a mix of Humanity Effect supporters from the US and lifelong Lagos residents, begin to brighten.
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Nigeria: From Lagos to the Point of No Return
The road to Badagry resembles a city street more than a highway with homes and vendor stalls constructed right to the edge of the asphalt. Life in Nigeria is lived in the open, and watching it unfold from our van feels uncomfortably voyeuristic. People eat, flirt, play soccer, pray, get haircuts—even relieve themselves—in the street:…
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Tunisia: Freedom in Blue and White
After four days under tight escort in Libya, stepping outside of Tunis-Carthage Airport alone felt both liberating and invigorating.
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Libya: Marble Ruins and Mint Tea
I’m somewhere inside Tripoli’s ancient medina, wandering narrow lanes shaded by trellises of jasmine and grapevines. I say “somewhere” because I’m a little disoriented. I had arrived in Libya from Istanbul just over an hour earlier. Normally, I’d be resting in my hotel room, but with only three nights and four days in the country,…
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Nepal: Sacred Streets & Safari Sights:
While we were pretty confident our three days in southern Nepal would yield a rhino sighting, or maybe even two, we were still unprepared to stumble upon a 4,000 lb rhino on our very first attempt. Placidly grazing, as a multi-ton horned beast is apt to do, the rhino casually eyed us for a few…
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