Learn the economic, political and environmental context of my host culture.
Read the original principle at indietravel.org.
Traveler Stories
6 - Istanbul (Not Constantinople) - Turkey – Searching for Something
13 Mar 2002 I can't help but sing that catchy They Might Be Giants song everywhere we go in Istanbul.
Natural Wonders: Vietnam National Parks
I usually think about how people draft their trips and vacations.
Table Mountain – Cape Town, South Africa
Two ways up Table Mountain: five minutes in the cable car, or three hours up Platteklip Gorge with a grandmother who will not hear of the cable car.
Oslo, Norway
Norway, to me, is the Argentina of Scandinavia.
Articles
Why You Should Ignore Everything You've Heard and Go to Belarus
Updated March 2026: This 2020 traveler's guide to Belarus has become a historical document. Due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the resulting security crisis, Belarus is now under Level 4 Do Not Travel warnings from most major governments. Learn what changed and why Belarus is no longer accessible to tourists.
Sites Around the World That Celebrate Sex and Sexuality
From fertility shrines to sex museums, the world celebrates sexuality in boldly authentic ways. Discover how different cultures approach love, fertility, and sex through art, ritual, and museums.
Groundhog Day: Weather Predicting Traditions Around the World
From Pennsylvania's famous groundhog to European frogs and saints, cultures worldwide have developed surprisingly elaborate methods to predict winter's grip.
Educational Travel: How to Get Permission and Justify the Experience to Your Local School
Updated in March of 2026 - How to boost your child's education through travel in the worldschooling era - and get the teachers onboard!