Landlocked Laos doesn’t have the famous beaches of its neighbors to attract tourists, but instead relies on the pristine beauty of its mountains and rivers and historical sites to bring in visitors. The crown jewel is Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where legend has it that Buddha once rested during his travels. It brings all the elements together, with its mix of historic Laotian and French colonial architecture on a peninsula at the confluence of the Mekong and the Nam Khan rivers. But a multibillion-dollar dam project underway 25 kilometers (15 miles) upstream has prompted concerns that it could result in the city losing its UNESCO status, and broader questions about what the government’s ambitious plans to build multiple dams across the Mekong will do to the river, t...
Read MoreDay: February 4, 2024
Passengers on a nine-month cruise have become unlikely stars on TikTok and Instagram, with thousands following their epic voyage and updates on daily life on board the "Serenade of the Seas". Wannabe cruisers have flocked to social media to follow the passengers' adventures on Royal Caribbean's "Ultimate World Cruise", lapping up footage of sightseeing on the more than 60 country trip as well as the more banal details of life on board. Nancy and Mike Jacobs, a couple from Michigan, in the United States, now have more than 63,000 followers on TikTok. Mike and Nancy Jacobs, who are on the nine month cruise, pose for a selfie at the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, December 31, 2023, in this still image obtained from social media. @livingphase2/via REUTERS Th...
Read MoreNational Geographic Orion will sail the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean for the 2025 summer season. To celebrate the ship's return to this stunning region, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic will debut four brand new Mediterranean itineraries, exploring the heritage-rich region like never before in the way only the global leader and pioneer of modern expedition cruising can. Featuring 53 expertly appointed exterior-facing cabins, National Geographic Orion will traverse the Mediterranean in style. From Croatia's iconic Dalmatian Coast to the stunning cerulean seas along the Greek Isles, the intimately scaled National Geographic Orion will show travelers the Mediterranean from a new perspective, exploring remarkable islands and remarkable port cities. "A Lindblad E...
Read More