Green Travel Books, Destination Guides, Community & Stories
For two days, we’ve drifted past schoolchildren waving from grassy banks and coconut groves, watched fishermen untangle their nets at dawn, and played endless games of travel backgammon on a rickety little table on the deck, as the kettuvallam houseboat glides through Kerala’s sleepy backwaters, greeted by kingfisher calls and the gently bobbing palms that …
It was Tove Jansson’s classic, The Summer Book, that first introduced me to Scandinavian summers and archipelagos strewn confetti-like with tiny islands, those in turn dotted with brightly painted wooden cabins. The all-too-brief passing of the northern summer months, the sense of urgency to seize every moment of sunshine and dappled light, before “it is still …
Somewhere above Bolzano—just beyond the creaking ascent of the cable car to Soprabolzano/Oberbozen—the names begin to double. Every signpost, every trail marker, every café board now comes in Italian and German. Soprabolzano / Oberbozen. Renon / Ritten. Malga / Alm. It’s June, and the meadows spill over with wildflowers—cornflowers, gentians, tiny pink orchids. I’ve packed …
Read more “Two Names for Every Mountain — Exploring the Dolomites”
There’s my idea of Cuba, and then there’s the Cuba I remember. Twenty years ago. The idea was shiny, idealistic, glamorous and vibrant. It’s all Castro and Hemingway, brightly-coloured Cadillacs and palm trees. The Cuba I remember is not quite the same. There are wind-battered palm trees on the Malecón, Havana’s pastel-hued seafront promenade, but …
Read more “Green Havana: Exploring Cuba’s Eco-Revolution in Community Tourism”
The Mediterranean’s sun-soaked Balearic islands are famous for their turquoise waters and charming villages, but beyond the tourist hubs lies a quieter, greener side. Imagine waking up in a traditional finca surrounded by olive and citrus groves, fields full of wildflowers, and the crystalline waters of the Mediterranean coastline beckoning. Visit the Balearics out of …
Read more “Island Time: Mini-Guide to Sustainable Travel in Mallorca”
La Serenissima has always entranced me. There are few places I have visited that hold the same captivating allure – the city seems to float on inky canal-ribboned waters. The patina-rich buildings in earthy shades of ochre, terracotta, dusty pinks, and soft cream walls with winking green or blue painted wooden shutters, showcase the remarkable …
Read more “Slow Season Venice: Is Green Travel in Venice Possible?”