Thailand

The red on the thermometer crept past 30°C. In Chiang Mai, temperatures remain volatile, chilly in the morning and sweltering by afternoon. I was in an air-conditioned restaurant and had a bowl of khao soi before me, its turmeric-gold broth steaming a rich coconut bisque. The chanting of monks from the nearby temples, fading in and out in an ethereal cadence, was backdropped by the tinkle of the wind chimes.

The Golden Triangle region of Northern Thailand sits at the intersection of three Southeast Asian countries along the Mekong and Ruak Rivers: Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. A visit to this area is an incredible way to learn about the culture, history, and traditional arts of the region, which have been created over centuries by talented artisans and craftsmen.

IIn the last century, Thailand has lost roughly 92 percent of its elephant population. Factors such as illegal wildlife trade, deforestation, and human-animal conflict have led the Asian elephant to the pages of Thailand’s endangered species list. The future of the surviving eight percent remains uncertain — but we know that humans have as much a role to play in their survival as they have had in their decline.

In my broken Thai, I pointed toward the water and looked at the boatman. “Bua?” I asked. "Bua" means lotus in Thai. I tried to mimic the local accent and used a hand gesture, hoping he would understand and take me to see the flowers. He nodded and smiled, mumbled a string of words that I could not understand, and steered the boat into the open water, still shrouded in morning fog. The boat slowly pierced through the dissipating mist, eerily silent, like something out of a sci-fi movie. Before us, a sea of pink lotuses started to unfold, bit by bit, like a watercolor painting coming to life with each brushstroke. It was surreal, almost like a dream, yet it was real. My jaw dropped in awe when the scene finally unfolded in its entirety.

As Donald Trump’s re-election prompts deep reflection among many Black Americans. A growing number are exploring life outside the U.S. Over the past few weeks, friends and family have reached out, expressing a genuine interest in relocation. As co-founders of World Footprints, Ian and I have spent decades traveling the world, sharing stories of culturally rich destinations that offer beauty and belonging. For those preparing to take this leap, we’ve created a list of seven welcoming, safe countries for Black Americans, including tips on residency and local considerations to make the transition easier.

The dock at Ao Nang in Krabi, Thailand is as nondescript as any western restaurant patio. Wooden slats make up a narrow walkway with benches on either side.

In a small town in the southwestern region of Nepal, Eva the rescue elephant and her new companion Lhamo are sprouting a charming kinship.

The year 2020 has been about the coronavirus pandemic. It's affected the world, touching all spheres of life, be it economic, social or political. Countries like Singapore were favored for being the best prepared to handle the coronavirus due to their prior experience with the SARS virus that had spread across the Asian countries at rapid speed in the early 2000s. Unfortunately, it seems that the coronavirus is a more nefarious enemy that has proven far more difficult to handle than most experts had first believed.

The day before I left for Nepal on a one-way ticket, I was having dinner by the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok with a good friend. I took us to my favorite little restaurant in the city that serves Thai staple foods like tom yung soup and pad thai that you can enjoy while looking out at the beautiful river. The place is always packed, and this Saturday evening at the beginning of March was no different. We reminisced of our times teaching English in Korea together and toasted to our friendship and all our dreams for the future. So was life just mere months ago. That travel moment (or just life moment) of mine, which was just an average Saturday at the time, means so much more now. 

For the past few years, wellness vacations have been on the rise and it’s not hard to understand why: with modern life burdening us with stressful commutes, long working hours, and the expectation of being available 24/7, it’s no wonder that some of us are looking to get away from it all and reconnect with ourselves.

The idea of a floating market may seem strange to Westerners, but is an Asian wonder that you won’t want to miss.