All photos by author. Mambo! Its the classic street slang for whats up? in Stone Town, Zanzibar and in most of urban East Africa. It literally means, things or issues? The upbeat term is often paired with the word vipi (how) as in, Mambo, vipi? How are things? There are at least 20 ways to answer the popular question that I never learned in formal Swahili classes. The gap between school and street could not be wider than in Stone Town, Zanzibars capital city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, that nearly 400,000 residents call home. Here, the lugha ya kisasa slang or lugha ya mitaani street language changes by the minute, mostly by young people who flip or shine an old word, or fashion a completely new one, inspired by hyper-local contexts, meanings, and realities. I thought I knew Kiswahili. Id earned an advanced certificate at the State University of Zanzibar. The program prides itself on teaching a kind of Swahili described as sanifu (standard) or fasaha (clean). It was rigorous...
24th July of this year marked 100 years exactly since Yale man and National Geographic explorer Hiram Bingham puffed and sweated his way up to the jungle-covered ruins of Machu Picchu. A century later, travelers who want to take in this true wonder of the world arent limited to explorer-style bivouacking; rather, there are now a wide range of accommodations, dining experiences, spas and adventures that rival the best in the world. So, in honor of Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham and the incredible cultural patrimony of Peru, I would like to show you what a luxury trip to Machu Picchu looks like today. Most visitors begin their journey in Lima. A short stay allows you to soak in the glorious colonial past of Limas central plaza. Palms, tropical-yellow buildings with exquisitely-carved wooden balconies and Spanish palaces sweep you back in time. Before becoming too nostalgic, head for the modern and very hip Miraflores district. Hugging the green cliffs, Miraflores offers visitors an incredib...
Sometimes a regular city break lacks a little je ne sais quoi? When you are looking to impress or in need of pampering, a luxurious break to Paris could be a revitalising experience. Personally, I am happy at both ends of the travel spectrum, from shared hostel dorms in Krakow to 5* luxury in the Med. However, Paris is definitely a city that deserves a lavish weekend at some point. By all means, visit on a budget, take in the Louvre , wander the Marais with the students but save that for another visit. This time I am talking serious Parisian chic. Start as you mean to go on by booking into a boutique hotel. Seeing as we are not worrying about the pennies, take a pool suite at the Murano Resort Hotel , yes; your bedroom really does come complete with swimming pool! This little gem of a hotel is all mod cons; each room bedecked with gadgetry and has a fabulous avant-garde restaurant. Alternatively, spend the weekend as a French aristocrat by renting a luxury apartment. Paris Luxury Rent...
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