At Atlantis Resort in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an enormous aquarium on the lower level allows guests close-up views of giant manta rays and sharks. The resort stands at the head of Palm Jumeira, the largest man-made island in the world, which was built in the shape of a palm tree. The … Read more
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), shoppers flock around the new Tesla cars on display at Dubai Mall. Several Emiratis made serious inquiries about purchasing one of these revolutionary, all-electric cars. In one instance, a salesman quoted the price – a cool $176,000. According to Tesla, these new models will be available for delivery in … Read more
Every morning, I passed Aisha on the sleepy sand streets of Bodufolhudhoo Island. Her black head scarf and ankle-length cloak revealed only her face and hands. I longed to speak to her, but after greeting me with a radiant smile and a heartfelt “Good morning,” she always lowered her eyes demurely and continued on her … Read more
At the end of the day, local youngsters on Bodufolhudhoo Island gather beach mats used by tourists. This tiny speck of an island is located in the Alif Alif Atoll group in the Maldive Islands. It is so small that I was able to walk entirely around it in 15 minutes. As all citizens of … Read more
During my recent trip to Australia, I was fortunate to enjoy a few days of camping at pristine Rainbow Beach on the Sunshine Coast. Each morning I was woken by flocks of Blue-faced Honeyeaters, who regularly descended on our campground. These birds were so bold that they ate broken crackers out of my hand. Males … Read more
