Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Wander.
10 Tips for Women Traveling Alone in Asia
I didn't have my first passport until I was nearly 22; this isn't terribly old, but I grew up in an area where most of my peers had passports by age 10 and airily talked about all the exciting vacations they were going on with family. Back then, I didn't feel at all jealous, since I honestly didn't have much interest in traveling.
By Trish Gilmore7 years ago in Wander
Protecting Francis Field
Last night, I got out of work early at my popcorn store and I waited for my ride home when in the middle of the silence of the car ride, I heard from my fiance who works at the Lighter tell me some of the rumors he has heard from locals who work downtown in the midst of tourists checking out Saint George Street.
By Heather Wilkins7 years ago in Wander
More Than a Destination
On my most recent trip to India, I visited many places, from the south and north up the coast, to Delhi and Punjab. But my favorite place to visit is the state of Kerala in southern India. From the shores of the Arabian Sea to the green, lush Ghats mountain range, it’s like paradise! Everyone there is welcoming and friendly, and many speak English. From the moment I arrived there, I was asked if I needed anything, how my trip was going, and to let them know if I needed anything. My first day I arrived in Kochi, I took a taxi to my hotel. As I rode to my hotel, many of the sites along the way were familiar and comforting. The driver was an older gentleman that only spoke a little English, but was a pleasure to talk to. As we drove along the road I looked ahead and was surprised to see an elephant (called “Ana” in Malayalam, which is the language in Kerala) in the back of a large truck. The driver slowed down as we came alongside the truck so I could click some pictures. Only in India, more so in Kerala, would you see an elephant in the back of a truck. I arrived at my hotel, which was amazing, and was graciously welcomed. There, along the shores, you will see Chinese fishing nets that are still in use today. There are many historical sites there to visit like Fort Kochi, Cochin Shipyards, and The Hill Palace. Down along the waterfront, you can see how the Chinese fishing nets are used. The Hill Palace has a beautiful garden with many tropical flowers. The next morning, I climbed aboard a bus headed to my next destination, Calicut. Along the way, I enjoyed a wonderful conversation with a gentleman from the area. I mentioned to him that I sing Hindi, and he asked if I could sing for him. I started playing one of my favorite songs from my iPod. The young man across from me started singing, so I sang a duet with him. After another song, the gentleman told the passengers in the back of the bus that I was an American singing Hindi. I turned and looked. Everyone had been listening to me sing. After reaching Calicut, one of my friends picked me up and we visited his family. There I was fed a traditional meal with fish as the main dish with rice and other local favorites. I checked into my hotel where the staff was very helpful. They made sure I had everything I needed. While I was in Kerala, I spoke at schools, talked about learning English and American culture, and I song Hindi and English songs. I spoke at two English training centers, a private school and a government school. I think the school I loved speaking at the most was the government school. All 1,000 students and staff were outside to greet me. It’s an amazing sight to look up and see that many faces looking at you with big smiles on there faces. Many of them had never met a foreigner. After six days, I took a flight to Bangalore, where my friend picked me up. We did sightseeing in and around the city. From there I flew to Delhi and met some more of my friends. I had the chance to meet one friend, and we sang Hindi and English songs together. My other friend was recording and as I started my next Hindi song, he looked at me with amazement. I asked him if everything was ok. He said yes, but that he thought I only knew one Hindi song. I surprised him by knowing many Hindi songs. I spent six days in Delhi seeing many historical sites. The Lotus Temple, the Red Fort, Jama Masjid, and the India Gate to name a few. From Delhi, I took a bus to Chandigarh Punjab where I stayed with a friend and his family for a few days. The highlight of my time in Punjab was in Amritsar. The Golden Temple is a very peaceful and tranquil place to visit. Definitely one of the places I would highly recommend visiting when you are in India. Although the weather was on the cool side, it was still an enjoyable time in Punjab. From there, I took a sleeper bus back to Delhi, a little tight for accommodations, but a nice restful trip overnight. I met up with a friend and had dinner and sang songs into the night. Then it was a flight back to Kerala. I had been asked to speak at another English training center there. During that time, I was able to stay in the same hotel I had originally stayed at. I had tried to book it, but the app said it was full. I had messaged Salam, the manager, about a room, he said he would make my arrangements. All the staff were very happy to see me again, as I was happy to see them also. There are so many wonderful memories from this trip, that it’s hard to put it all down in words. I am very fortunate to have wonderful friends that are native to the area and shared their home with me. At one friend's home, all the neighborhood kids came to visit. They taught me how to play carom, a type of board game. They were very good teachers, but I was not a fast learner. I also stayed at a hotel where the staff was very helpful, and I look forward to seeing them all again on my next visit! Flying back to Delhi for my flight home was a little sad. I had visited with friends, made new friends, and grew more personally as an individual. Although all of India is amazing and each area has its own history, Kerala is not just a destination, it’s like home away from home!
By Pam Gingerich7 years ago in Wander
Icelandic Memories
Iceland has captivated my heart and soul. Other than a bit of snow and some strong wind, we’ve been very lucky with the weather. For most of the days the sky has been clear, perfect for viewing the northern lights and riding on a snowmobile. I don’t think I will ever forget my experience on my seven-day trip in Iceland. Everything from the food, accommodation, to social life has been a big experience for me.
By Chloe Gilholy7 years ago in Wander
A Tourist in Rome
You brought me to the river for lunch. A far cry from the Spanish Steps or the Vatican, but instead you showed me life... I can still recall him, the wise and simple fisherman with a thousand stories tucked between the lines on his sun-dried face. Though he is of a foreign tongue, I was captured by the excited rhythm on which his tales flowed, all the while his eyes gleaming with joy.
By Naomi Firestone7 years ago in Wander
Icelandic Punk Museum
I didn’t know what to expect during my week in Iceland, but I didn’t expect to find a punk museum. My knowledge in Icelandic music is limited, but I am a big fan of Björk’s albums, especially Verspitine. I haven’t listened to anything by her band The Sugarcubes, but that all changed when I set foot in Iceland.
By Chloe Gilholy7 years ago in Wander
Best Animal Encounters in San Francisco Area
A family vacation in San Francisco can be chock-full of fun places for families to visit. There are so many sights to see and things to do it can be somewhat overwhelming. Taking some time to see one of San Francisco’s many animal locations to partake in a unique animal encounter is the perfect way to catch your breath and relax.
By Kimberly Adams7 years ago in Wander
Best Animal Encounters in the Los Angeles Area
A visit to tinsel town can be exciting, but sometimes the glitz and glamour go right over kid’s heads. There are other activities and fun places to visit in the Los Angeles area that are specially geared towards kids, especially kids who love animals and enjoy interacting with them. These encounters are memories you will treasure for years to come.
By Kimberly Adams7 years ago in Wander
Yellowstone: Truly Wild
I'm a product design student at the University of Utah, a fairly large public university nestled in the mountains of Salt Lake City. Our studio had the unique opportunity to work in partnership with Yellowstone Forever, the official non-profit arm of Yellowstone National Park, to look at issues surrounding the park, the visitors, the wildlife, and various other controversial topics. Our goal: to help shed some light on overlooked opportunities the NPS (National Park Service) and Yellowstone Forever may not have considered previously, and to help bridge the gap between the non-profit sector and the federal park system itself.
By Christian Pugsley7 years ago in Wander
My Walk Through Selma, Alabama. Top Story - March 2019.
Despite the hundreds of miles that I had already walked with my daughter, I was not prepared for Selma. The subject never came up. We traveled west from Montgomery, Alabama. Montgomery seemed like a nice, unassuming town. It was a nice place to be. Arriving in Selma, it felt as though the hands of time had been turned back. Here, the extreme poverty was much more evident. People worked very hard for everything they had. It was amazing what a difference 54 miles could make.
By Charlotte Mason7 years ago in Wander
Explore Bar Harbor, Maine
Downtown Bar Harbor, shops and restaurants. In the heart of downtown Bar Harbor is a small but beautiful park with plenty of shady or sunny spots to relax in the grass. This is also the central bus stop to catch connecting buses to many spots in Acadia or around Mount Desert Island. Downtown is filled with plenty of restaurants and bakeries to fill any craving you may have. You can find the most delicious lobster mac and cheese at West Street Café and for dessert, a highly recommended swirled wild blueberry cheesecake slice from Pink Pastry shop! While walking through downtown you can expect to find many local shops promoting products made right in Bar Harbor. It was here I tried my first ever blueberry soda, It was so tasty I bought a whole case! One unique downtown gem was the movie local theater located straight across from the park. We had some extra time and caught a cheap but brand new movie and was surprised to have the ability to order pizza right to our seats.
By Brianna Czarnik7 years ago in Wander
