KILLING FIELDS OF CAMBODIA tells a tragic story that unfolded between 1975 and 1979 under a brutal regime—the Khmer Rouge. Under the dictatorship of Pol Pot, a drastic Marxist social engineering was imposed, an experiment that failed and claimed over two million Cambodian lives. This is a terrible story, but Read more…
Siege of Sarajevo April 1992 to February 1996 SIEGE OF SARAJEVO lasted for 1,425 days. In the history of modern warfare, this was the longest siege of a city. Longer than the World War 2’s Siege of Stalingrad, which lasted for 900 days. Sarajevo, situated in a valley surrounded by Read more…
Taking Goethe’s Favorite Ancient Bridge SPOLETO in Umbria Italy was one of our favorite places to visit on weekend trips when we lived in Napoli. Only a three-hour drive north from Rome, this medieval split-level city (though I like to call it a town, limiting it only to its historical Read more…
Hurry Before It’s Gone TSUKIJI FISH MARKET is slated for the chopping block. At one o’clock a.m., our alarm blares. We wake up in a hotel room in Ginza. We take a quick shower, get dressed, and, rubbing our sleepy eyes, head out into the dark, quiet, sleeping streets of Read more…
Down the 26-Switchback Trail KALAUPAPA is today’s destination on our week-long trip to Molokai, Hawaii. Early in the morning, high up in the misty reaches of the northern mountains of Molokai, we arrive at Uncle Buzzy’s Guided Mule Tour. We park our rental car and then gather with the other Read more…
Why Is It So Dangerous? VESUVIUS is considered one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes. You may know its infamy: the destroyer of Pompeii nearly 2,000 years ago. But did you know Vesuvius is one of the world’s easiest volcanoes to climb? If you visit Naples, Italy, you can’t miss Read more…
What Am I Doing Here? PRAGUE, Czech Republic, is my destination as the Dolomiti flight 3272 descends through a turbulent headwind. I gaze out the airplane window. Droplets of rain slant across the glass like tears. It’s raining in Prague. The city of alchemy and astrology and magic from where Read more…
The Legendary Hero of Hawaii DUKE KAHANAMOKU was not only the father of international surfing. He was also an Olympian. When Duke was 21, he won his first Olympic gold medal. Between 1212 and 1924, Duke won two silver medals and three gold medals. No one could match his freestyle Read more…
Neapolitans’ Pride CAFFÉ GAMBRINUS is Napoli’s historical café. Neapolitans are proud to tell you that Napoli serves the best coffee in the world. After all they’ve invented “café espresso” (their claim). But when I ask–“Where in Napoli can I have best of the best served?”—they can never agree. When Oscar Read more…
An Intriguing Possibility in Rome LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. He’s world famous. His real name is Thomas Edward Lawrence. He was a British military officer who had embedded himself in the Great Arab Revolt in 1916. He wrote a book about his experience, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. The book inspired Read more…