humanity

If nothing else, travel opens your eyes to the colorful quilt that is humankind.

Anatomy of a Scene – Bourdain’s ‘Parts Unknown’ in Congo and NYC Contrast
If you had to pick opposites in the world, you couldn’t do much worse to contrast the journey through the thick Congolese jungles and down the Congo River with the urban sprawl of New York City. One of Anthony Bourdain’s ‘Parts Unknown’ episodes in the Congo has one of the show’s best scenes where it has a vivid description of Bourdain gazing over New York City from his high-rise apartment in the closing moments, set up against the backdrop of his first and only foray to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
By Ben W11 months ago in Wander
Seeing The Multiplicity of Human Realities Through Travel
I have always thought of travel as more than just changing your physical location to another place. To me, it’s also about seeing alternate realities in the sense that you get to witness how people around the world have distinct ways of living, thinking, and experiencing the world that challenge and even change your own perspective.
By Ben W11 months ago in Wander
Wandering Souls
I opened my eyes — no colors, just a blur. Shapes moved around me, shadowy and unfamiliar. The air was no longer warm and comforting. Why did they take me from that safe, protected place into this unknown world? Where am I? What… or who am I?
By Marcela Gama11 months ago in Wander
Emphasizing The Whoosh; a March Perspective. Top Story - March 2025.
Good afternoon, Vocal Media community and welcome to my first Monday huddle of March! Sorry I missed you last week but I couldn't capture my intended photographs to my liking which are relevant to my story. As an avid birder, I often capture their flight patterns on film, but for this particular prompt, the whoosh, I found my task a bit tricky, especially with the speed of the implied word.
By Marilyn Glover11 months ago in Wander
🌍 Lost Cities. AI-Generated.
Introduction: Cities That Disappeared from History Imagine a bustling city—streets filled with traders, temples echoing with prayers, homes filled with families.
By Ahmet Kıvanç Demirkıran11 months ago in Wander
The Colorful Beauty of Guatemala
Guatemala is a land of vibrant colors, where every shade seems to tell a story. The country’s deep appreciation for color is reflected not just in the clothing and jewelry its people wear but also in the landscapes, architecture, and cultural traditions that define it. From the intricately woven textiles of the Mayan people to the pastel-hued colonial facades of Antigua, Guatemala’s beauty is a feast for the eyes. Whether through its breathtaking nature, rich history, or enduring traditions, color is woven into the very fabric of daily life.
By Ben W11 months ago in Wander
Leaving Africa Made Me Realize How Lucky I Am To Be African
Out of nowhere, the tears began to flow. They took me by surprise. "Bye Dad," I whispered as I fixed my eyes on the Helderberg Mountains. I began sobbing quietly as the plane shifted and the Hottentots-Holland Range came into view. We had scattered my father's ashes there months prior. His soul was now at rest in the mountains that made him so happy for two decades.
By Vanessa Brown11 months ago in Wander
Read when you're in Miami
2/25/25 Mac's Club Deuce, Miami FL You will always be my special friend, Drinking a Jai Alai & a margarita at this dive in my twin's old neighborhood. This was where she had her first legal drink at 21. The first time I came to visit her, we were reunited for the first time in years after we'd left home. She lived in an apartment blocks from the beach with someone she doesn't know any more. Life works like that; we spend so much time with our special friends, lovers, even family members that we don't see again once the tide goes out.
By Joe Nasta | Seattle foodie poet11 months ago in Wander
The Uncharming Truth About Dancing Snakes
(Content note - animal cruelty) I ought to be ashamed to admit (but am not really, because who doesn't find a stupid idea in their own head occasionally?) that I have a very Bollywood-influenced idea of snake charming, or had until very recently.
By TheSpinstress 12 months ago in Wander
Do You Ever Wonder If Somebody Died in the Hotel Bed You're Sleeping In?
Before I was a failed warehouse manager, I cleaned to earn a living. Well, I did many weird little jobs to earn a living, including owning a business, but that's beside the point. If you want to read about my adventures in employment, check out my book, I'm Not the Manager Here!
By LRBabout a year ago in Wander
Pioneer Granny White Lived in a Damn Small House
I often used to wonder why libraries with grand wooden beams and stone walls drew me in — why creativity takes off when I visit a particular café tacked together with ashlar stone and love.
By Elle M. Athensabout a year ago in Wander
The Grief Of Losing A Happy Place
Woke up that morning desperate to see him. Listened to jazz while I made myself look pretty. The anticipation excited me as I pondered which book to take with me, what I would write, eat, feel. Before stepping out of the door, I checked my phone for the route. Trains cancelled. Why, why would they stand in our way? Though, my thrill would not be dampened by this delay, so I took another route in his direction. Three times the duration and more the effort, the only thing getting me through was knowing it would lead me to him. Perhaps the sun would be dimmer and my eyes a little wearier but I would spark to life the moment I walked through his doors and into his beating heart. Finally, I arrived. Walked past the bookstores and galleries with a skip in my step. All of the surrounding chaos would dissipate the moment we would meet. I turned the corner and there he was, lifeless. My feet stopped for a moment, then slowly edged towards him. Standing before a locked door, frozen, in shock. It felt surreal, and I was not so sure my strength could carry me much further. I lowered my body to the cold step, and I weeped.
By Katerina Petrouabout a year ago in Wander