Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco

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Cuddle a Koala at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary really lives up to its name. Located in Brisbane, Australia, it is the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary with over 130 koalas. It is filled with cuddly creatures to hug. Koalas are not the only creature you will find at the sanctuary. From kangaroos to lorikeets, platypuses to Tasmanian devils, you will find all the Australian wildlife you could want. Every day is packed with wildlife shows and presentations. Whether you are interested in a sheepdog performance or a bird of prey flight show, you will find it at the Koala Sanctuary. The highlight for many visitors to the Sanctuary is hugging a koala. There is no need to worry about the hugs upsetting the koalas, as all the Lone ...

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Experience the Birth of a Glacier at the Ilulissat Icefjord

Iceland is known for many things, one of which should be the Ilulissat Icefjord, locally known as Ilulissat Kangerlua. A fjord is a narrow, long and usually deep inlet of sea which runs between steep cliffs or slopes. The Ilulissat Icefjord is located on Greenland’s’ western coast. It runs 40 kilometers west, starting at the Greenland ice sheet and ending close to the town of Ilulissat. On the eastern tip of this icefjord, there is the Jakobshavn Isbræ (also known as Sermeq Kujalleq) glacier. This is the most productive or active glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Scientists have studied Jakobshavn Isbræ for the past 250 years. It has contributed to current conclusions and findings regarding climate change. Every year, roughly 20 billion tones of icebergs ...

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Wander the Grounds of the First Olympic Games at the Ruins of Ancient Olympia

Ancient Olympia, site of the first Olympic Games, is one of the most important sites of antiquity in Greece. Nestled between the Alfios and Kladeos rivers, Ancient Olympia started out as a grove devoted to the Greek god Zeus in the 10th century BC. Today, the buildings are now weather-worn ruins beneath the cool refuge of the valley. The Olympic Games as we know them began in the 8th century BC and were organized by three rulers as a type of truce between their lands. Since that day, the Olympic Games have occurred every four years from 776 BC to AD 393 during the full moon after the summer harvest. At a time when Ancient Olympia was the centre of the Games, the rules about ...

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Celebrate Cinco de Mayo - Mariachi, Margaritas and Mole, Oh My!

Despite the common misconception, Cinco de Mayo is not actually Mexico's Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican militia's victory over the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It is more of a regional holiday than a national one, and most of the celebrations occur in the city of Puebla. Those parts of the United States with large Mexican populations will also enjoy the thrill of Cinco de Mayo celebrations, which have become a bigger tradition than in Mexico itself. Cinco de Mayo is seen more as a day to celebrate Mexican culture within the United States. The Battle of Puebla took place over forty years after Mexico gained its independence from Spain. The years following independence were riddled with war, ...

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Jamaica: Sun, Sand...Yams?

When someone says the word ‘Jamaica’, certain images come to mind. Warm sunshine. White, sandy beaches. Delicious, fruity cocktails. One word that might not mesh with your usual vision of Jamaica is: yam. However, every April, the yam takes centre stage during the Trelawny Yam Festival. The Trelawny Yam Festival takes places every April in the main square of Albert Town (it was relocated for two years, but us now back in Albert Town). Why is there a yam festival in Jamaica? The yam is actually one of the most popular foods in Jamaica. It is used in many of their traditional dishes and soups. Some statistics claim that dishes with yams are even more popular in Jamaica than jerk chicken. In the south Trelawny ...

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Celebrate Venice Carnival Behind the Refuge of a Mask

The Carnival of Venice is a city-wide masquerade, which originated as a vacation day on the last day before Lent during the 14th Century. Despite the fact that the Venetian Carnival marks the beginning of Lent, it has no direct religious connection and was traditionally a night of debauchery, drinking, blurred social status, costuming and masks. Ironically, the Venetian Carnival was regulated by strict rules back in the 14th Century, and Carnival-goers were not allowed to wear masks around the city at night time, and men could not enter convents if they were disguised as women. Celebrations within the nun parlours were strictly prohibited, and in the face of the Carnival's lack of religious significance, the city officials were determined to uphold the morality of ...

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A Fiery Inferno at the Wakakusa Yamayaki Festival in Japan

The Yamayaki Festival has a flare for tradition! This fiery rebirth ritual takes place annually on Wakakusa Hill in Nara Park, Japan. Every January during Wakakusa Yamayaki, local monks fulfill a tradition hundreds of years old which involves setting the entire 342-meter-tall Hill ablaze. The origin of Wakakusa Yamayaki dates back to the Kamakura Period, between 1185 and 1333. It is thought this ritual was begun to rid farmland of pests and dead vegetation, and to prepare the earth for new growth in spring. This preparation for new life is a beautiful sight to see, as the flames leap high in the winter night sky. Wakakusa Yamayaki begins at around 5:30 p.m. with purification rituals and sacraments, as well as prayers for safety during the ...

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There Are Many Shades of Grey at the Blacks and Whites Carnival, Colombia

The Carnival de Negros y Blancos, or the Blacks and Whites Carnival, is an annual Columbian tradition that takes place in the city of Pasto from December 28 to January 7; although the actual Black and White days are January 5–6. January 5 is the day of the Blacks, and January 6 is the day of the Whites. The origin of the Carnival de Negros y Blancos dates back to the days of the conquistadores (masters) and esclavos (slaves). At the beginning of the new year, slaves were given a day off from work by some of the more benevolent masters. Nowadays, to symbolize the equality of all people and races, those attending the Carnival de Negros y Blancos paint themselves black (for the slaves) ...

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Loch Ness is More than a Monster

Loch Ness is more than the name of an alleged sea monster. It is a Scottish lake, the site of the historic Urquhart Castle, and an area of towns and villages. The term “loch” is a Gaelic name for lake, so Loch Ness would roughly translate to “Lake Ness”. It is located in the Scottish Highlands, and is arguably the best known of the Scottish lochs due to its legendary association with the Loch Ness Monster. Some people claim that it is the most famous lake in the world. Nessie aside, Loch Ness pulls in many second place records. It is both the second largest and second deepest of all the Scottish lochs, but the most voluminous in terms of water held (Loch Ness contains ...

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Beat the Winter Blues At Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival

When you hear the word “Sapporo” you might think of a delicious glass of beer. However, for many people in Sapporo, Japan, that word often precedes “Snow Festival”. The Sapporo Snow Festival is a yearly event taking place for a week in February. The main attractions at the Sapporo Snow Festival is the snow and ice sculptures which turn parts of of the city into a veritable winter wonderland. Glistening ice and pristine white snow are used to create beautiful and elaborate sculptures that amaze tourists and locals alike. The Sapporo Snow Festival is huge now, but came from very humble beginnings. In the year 1950, a group of high school students built six snow sculptures in Odori Park: a local, central park. The festival ...

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