World and Beauty

IMAGINE cruising in a beautifully furnished houseboat that could take you through the deltas of 44 rivers. That is possible in the 550-mile-long [900 km] backwaters of the state of Kerala, in southwest India. It is a joyful experience, a unique one—indeed, it is like floating on nature’s lap. As your boat lazily moves along, you cannot help but admire the coconut-rimmed lagoons, lush green paddy fields, natural lakes, and man-made canals. Yes, likely because of these backwaters, the National Geographic Traveler listed Kerala as “one of the top 50 ‘must-see destinations of a lifetime.’” Not to be missed are the folk who live on the shores of the many canals. They remember a time when there were neither tourists nor five-star hotels in their neighborhood. However, their lives have not changed much. Although some of them are now employed in newly developed hotels or other tourism-related establishments, by and large their culture and their daily routine remain the same. They care for t

LEANING forward, holding tightly to the roof beams, we poked our heads out the top of an 800-year-old stone tower in the country of Georgia. From our vantage point some 80 feet (25 m) above the ground, we saw scores of other ancient watchtowers scattered throughout the village of Mestia, Svaneti’s regional capital. The gently sloping valley, carpeted with green hay fields, contrasted strikingly with the immensity of the lofty snowy summits that soared up around us. We were captivated by this ancient place, feeling that somehow we had stepped back into the Middle Ages. Visiting the famous watchtowers of Svaneti had, in fact, been a goal of our trip. Touring the Area To reach this mountainous community, we took a lonely, narrow road that clings to the mountain and is bounded by steep precipices that drop off to the river below. On finally reaching Ushguli, we were rewarded with an unforgettable sight—clusters of houses huddled around medieval watchtowers. The backdrop was the im

BY DAY, the wilderness is tranquil and quiet. But at night, spine-chilling growls and screams echo through the forest. The source of the screeching? A feisty marsupial with an unfortunate name—the Tasmanian devil. These sturdy animals can look and sound incredibly fierce, especially when dining on a carcass. Yet their rowdy bickering is mostly bluff. These devils can clear the forest of carrion with amazing speed. Their powerful jaws and teeth can devour almost any carcass—skin, bones, and all. In fact, a devil can eat up to 40 percent of its body weight in half an hour—a feat comparable to a human devouring a 55-pound (25 kg) steak at one sitting! Far more endearing is the gentle common wombat, a stocky animal with a cuddly appearance. Like all marsupials, female wombats have pouches and suckle their young. Yet, unlike their relatives’ pouches, those of the wombat face backward, doubtless to keep baby clean while mother scoops out their burrows. Wombats also have teeth that nev

FLOATING VILLAGES, bustling markets, streets jammed with motorbikes transporting everything from live chickens to refrigerators—these are just some of the sights and sounds in parts of Cambodia. The People of Cambodia are known for being warm, friendly, and close-knit. In informal settings, they may refer to one another using titles for brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandmother, or grandfather—even if they are meeting for the first time! Rice is a prominent part of Cambodian cuisine. A typical meal will have three or four dishes, often including soup. Fish is a favorite food. It is common for sweet, sour, and salty dishes to be served in the same meal. About two millenniums ago, Indian merchants and pilgrims on their way to China began frequenting Cambodia’s coastline and exchanging silk and metals for spices, aromatic wood, ivory, and gold. In time, the people of Cambodia absorbed the influence of India and China, and thus Hinduism and Buddhism flourished. Today, over 90 pe

BELIZE packs variety into a small space—from tropical forests to turquoise waters surrounding a multitude of islands along its coast. But diverse geography is only the beginning of the wonders of Belize. Hundreds of bird and animal species can be found in this country. Among its wildlife are the brightly colored keel-billed toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) and the Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii)—a rubbery-nosed relative of the rhino that can move quickly on land and under water! There is also the solitary jaguar (Panthera onca). In fact, Belize boasts the world’s first jaguar preserve. Belize was once part of the Maya civilization. Spanish conquistadores arrived in the 16th century but did not fully defeat the Maya. Later, the British wrested control of the area and in 1862 officially declared it to be the colony of British Honduras. In 1981, Belize gained independence. Belizeans are as colorful as their surroundings. Some of the primary ethnic groups are Creole, East Indian,

FIVE centuries ago, the Spaniards first visited this region. They called it Costa Rica (Rich Coast), thinking that they would find an abundance of gold—a quest that proved futile. This land is today known, not as a source for valuable metals, but as a country with one of the richest biodiversities on earth. Costa Ricans are known as Ticos, which comes from their custom of adding “-ico” to the end of words to form the diminutive. For example, instead of saying “un momento” (just a moment), they might say “un momentico” (just a little moment). In everyday speech they often say “¡pura vida!” (pure life!) to express their appreciation or their agreement or to say “hello” or “goodbye.” One of Costa Rica’s favorite dishes is FIVE centuries ago, the Spaniards first visited this region. They called it Costa Rica (Rich Coast), thinking that they would find an abundance of gold—a quest that proved futile. This land is today known, not as a source for valuable metals, but as a country with

IT WAS likely about 800 years ago that Maori tribes traveled across thousands of miles of ocean and settled in New Zealand. There they discovered a terrain that was totally unlike the tropical islands of Polynesia that they had left behind. Here was a land of mountains and glaciers, thermal springs and snow. Another race of settlers arrived about five centuries later, this time from distant Europe. Today most New Zealanders acknowledge traditions of both Anglo-Saxon and Polynesian origin. Almost 90 percent of the population are city dwellers. The city of Wellington has the distinction of being the southernmost capital in the world. With diverse and spectacular scenic beauty, it is no surprise that, despite its relative isolation, New Zealand attracts up to three million tourists yearly. New Zealand boasts an odd assortment of wildlife, with more species of flightless birds than anywhere else in the world. It is also home to the tuatara, a lizardlike reptile that can live for u