When Hook was a child, he started his days by jumping off the boat that his family lived on and into the ocean. By age 3, he could already swim and dive in shallow waters. His home was a kabang, a boat, that his family sailed in Thailand’s southern waters. The ocean was his backyard. Now Hook, whose full name is Suriyan Klathale, lives on land like the rest of his community, a people known as the Moken. The recollections of his childhood, which many Moken of his generation still have, are mostly just memories. The community, a group of indigenous people from Thailand and Myanmar, came to worldwide attention for its members’ understanding of waves when the Indian Ocean Tsunami struck in December 2004 and killed more than 200,000 people. The few tourists who happened to be on the isla...
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travelogues, travel articles and news from around the world
When Pope Francis left the Vatican earlier this month for his traditional Christmastime outing downtown, he acknowledged what many Romans have been complaining about for months: That his big plans for a Holy Year had turned their city into a giant construction pit, with traffic-clogging roadworks tearing up major thoroughfares, scaffolding covering prized monuments and short-term rentals gobbling up apartment blocks. Francis urged Romans to pray for their mayor — “He has a lot to do” — but to nevertheless welcome the upcoming Jubilee as a time of spiritual repair and renewal. “These worksites are fine, but beware: Don’t forget the worksites of the soul!” Francis said. When he formally opens the Holy Year next week, Francis will launch a dizzying 12-month calendar of events that ...
Read MoreOslo has been my adopted home for 20 years. I am from Paris originally and have been working at Reuters for 15 years, where I’ve covered news ranging from the Norwegian oil and gas industry to its $1.9 trillion sovereign wealth fund to the annual awarding of the Nobel Prize. The Norwegian capital, which historically played second fiddle to its bigger, more glamorous cousins Copenhagen and Stockholm, now has excellent restaurants and world-class museums, such as a recently opened one dedicated to Edvard Munch and the National Museum, which has moved to a new, larger home. Still, nature is never far. Here are few insider tips: Getting around: Oslo is a compact city, so I walk or cycle everywhere. If I need to go a little further afield, I will jump on a tram, bus...
Read MoreUNESCO will deploy a team of experts to assess possible risks for the conservation of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam as it is worried about development projects that may threaten the heritage-listed tourist attraction, the U.N. agency told Reuters. The bay and the adjoining Cat Ba archipelago of limestone islets celebrates this year the 30th anniversary of inscription on the UNESCO world heritage list, being considered by the agency "the most extensive and best known example of marine-invaded tower karst." The UNESCO designation contributed to the site becoming a massive tourist destination, drawing millions of visitors every year and boosting Vietnam's revenue from tourism. However, the United Nations' education, scientific and cultural agency, in a statement attributed to its World...
Read MoreAn "amphibious mouse" with partially webbed feet that eats aquatic insects was among 27 new species discovered during a 2022 expedition to Peru's Amazon, according to Conservation International. Scientists also discovered a spiny mouse, a squirrel, eight types of fish, three amphibians and 10 types of butterflies, Trond Larsen, head of Conservation International's Rapid Assessment Program, told Reuters this week. A specimen of spiny mouse (Scolomys sp.), a species discovered on a Conservation International Rapid Assessment expedition into the Alto Mayo Landscape in Peru, is pictured, June 16, 2022. Conservation International/photo by Ronald Diaz/Handout via REUTERS He added that another 48 species found by investigators were potentially new, but needed further study. The...
Read MoreWalk into Korea introduces Yuseong hot springs Yuseong Hot Springs, located in Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong District, Daejeon, South Korea, is a renowned hot spring destination. Its origins date back to the ancient Baekje era, with records indicating that Taejo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, and his son Taejong visited Yuseong for hot spring baths. The hot spring water in Yuseong contains over 60 beneficial minerals, known to be effective for neurological disorders and chronic diseases. However, the 2010s saw the closure of famous hotels, leading to a decline in visitors and a crisis for the hot spring city with over 1,000 years of history. Yuseong Hot Springs District offers a variety of facilities and activities for both business and leisure. Revitalizing Yuseong hot spri...
Read MoreA giant frog species that hopped alongside dinosaurs and is considered a "living fossil" is now losing ground in its native Chile as climate change and human intervention damage its habitat. The Calyptocephallela gayi, or Helmeted Water Toad, is one of the largest frogs in the world, growing up to over 30 cm (1 foot) in length and weighing up to 1 kg (2.2 lbs). Environmental researchers extract genetic material from a Chilean frog's leg (Calyptocephalella gayi) in a wetland in the middle of a neighbourhood in the city of Quilpue, Chile, December 8, 2024. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido The amphibian has seen little genetic variation for millions of years, but now its future is at risk, scientists say. "It's sad that a species that managed to coexist with dinosaurs, that managed to res...
Read MoreShort, and dark, and young, and tired, the seal on Ipanema was basking ... The fur seal on Rio de Janeiro’s iconic beach was turning heads of locals and tourists alike Wednesday morning — though not for the same reasons as the famous “Girl from Ipanema.” A fur seal stands on Ipanema beach in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) The animal is often spotted along Brazil’s coastline during winter and spring, but rarely is it seen this time of year, a few days before the start of the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, said Suelen Santiago, a biologist who works at the company that monitors the beach. “This year we’re having atypical situations,” she said. Cordoned off by tape and flags, the young male seal became the main attraction on one of the world’s ...
Read MoreAnantara Santorini Abu Dhabi hosts Michelin-Starred chef Louis Anjos This January, Minor Hotels’ Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat will host its first-ever Michelin-star dining event, featuring the culinary artistry of renowned Chef Louis Anjos. Over three extraordinary evenings, from 12 to 14 January, guests will embark on a gastronomic journey at Thalassa, where the allure of the Arabian Gulf meets Greek-inspired elegance. Guests will savour an exclusive five-course menu expertly crafted by Chef Louis Anjos, celebrated for his innovative approach to Portuguese cuisine and his respect for traditional flavours. Signature dishes, such as the Caviar-Kissed Tuna & Oyster, layered with Oscietra caviar and cucumber, and the Lobster Royale, accented with green apple and galanga...
Read MoreUN Tourism has recognized the Department of Culture and Tourism of Abu Dhabi (DCT-Abu Dhabi) for its excellence in destination management. Abu Dhabi becomes the sixth Destination Management Organization (DMO) in the world and the first in the Middle East region to receive the UN Tourism QUEST certification, testament to its ongoing dedication to excellence in governance and commitment to sustainability. DCT-Abu Dhabi scored exceptionally high in the three areas of assessment of the certification after receiving 120 hours of capacity building sessions delivered by UN Tourism Academy, which included courses on: Sustainable Tourism; Governance for Sustainable Tourism; Quality and Competitiveness; and Sustainable Tourism Practices for Destination Management. These courses were compl...
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