Category: Geographical Location

+ Four young parade queens celebrating Feria de las Flores in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, photographed by Kike Calvo.

+ Americas, Blog, Festivals & Living Traditions, New York City, United States

From Jackson Heights to the Smithsonian: Photographing Latino Identity in New York

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An exploration of cultural memory, migration, and the traditions that travel with us. On July 8, 2018, I was photographing a celebration along 37th Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens. There were Mexican masked dancers, Colombian artists, elaborate costumes, music, and people proudly sharing traditions rooted in places far beyond New York City. Among the many moments I photographed that day was a portrait of … Read More From Jackson Heights to the Smithsonian: Photographing Latino Identity in New York

+ Artistic representation of an African ceremonial mask in a museum connected through 3D technology with community elders and younger generations in West Africa.

+ Africa, anthropology, Blog, Cultural Heritage, Curious Minds, Focus, Technology & Culture

When Museums Go Virtual: Can 3D Technology Reconnect Africa With Its Cultural Heritage?

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The text discusses the intersection of technology and cultural heritage, particularly regarding museum objects from Africa. It highlights the limitations of traditional museum practices and labels, which often reflect colonial biases, and emphasizes the potential of digital technologies like 3D scanning and virtual reality to reconnect communities with their cultural artifacts. Anthropologist Craig Stevens’ research explores how these technologies can enable source communities to recount the true histories and meanings of objects, promoting interpretive agency. The article advocates for a shift toward collaborative narratives that include diverse voices, rather than imposing a singular institutional perspective.

+ Africa, African Art, anthropology, Curious Minds, Focus, West Africa

Buying African Art While Traveling: What Every Explorer Should Know Before Bringing a Piece Home

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From carved masks and ancestral sculptures to textiles, baskets, and contemporary works of art, Africa offers extraordinary opportunities to encounter creativity and craftsmanship. But how do we distinguish a meaningful acquisition from a misleading souvenir? And when does collecting become a question of cultural responsibility? There is a particular moment that many travelers recognize. You are walking through a market somewhere in Africa. The … Read More Buying African Art While Traveling: What Every Explorer Should Know Before Bringing a Piece Home

+ Africa, Behind the Scenes, Benin, Blog, Custom Travel, Ghana, Ivory Coast, LŪM Expeditions, Togo, Travel Experiences, Traveler Stories & Testimonials, West Africa

Why Travel with LŪM Expeditions? A Traveler’s Perspective from West Africa

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What makes a journey truly memorable? Is it the places we visit, the people we meet, or the experiences we never imagined possible? After more than 20 days exploring Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Benin, Ghana, and Togo, one of our fellow explorers shares his firsthand experience traveling with LŪM Expeditions™. From extraordinary cultural traditions and encounters with local communities to the comfort of feeling … Read More Why Travel with LŪM Expeditions? A Traveler’s Perspective from West Africa

+ Girls exploring the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford, England

+ anthropology, Blog, Cultural Heritage, Curious Minds, India, Museums

When Ancestors Come Home: Why an Oxford Museum Is Returning Naga Human Remains

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Walk through some of the great ethnographic museums of Europe and you encounter an extraordinary record of humanity. Masks. Weapons. Textiles. Ritual objects. Jewelry. Musical instruments. Sculptures. But hidden within the history of many collections is a much more difficult question: How did these things get here? And sometimes an even more uncomfortable one: What happens when the “collection” isn’t an object at all—but … Read More When Ancestors Come Home: Why an Oxford Museum Is Returning Naga Human Remains

+ Ethiopian families and children celebrate Enkutatash among yellow flowers in the highlands, representing Ethiopia's New Year and unique 13-month calendar.

+ Africa, Blog, Curious Minds, Ethiopia, History & Heritage, Travel Inspiration

Why September 11 Is New Year’s Day in Ethiopia

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For much of the world, September 11 is a date associated with memory and tragedy. For me, it is deeply personal. I was a young aspiring photojournalist living in New York in 2001, spending countless hours walking Manhattan with my camera, always searching for stories. On September 11, I suddenly found myself documenting a story none of us could have imagined. I photographed the … Read More Why September 11 Is New Year’s Day in Ethiopia

+ A lone traveler leads a small camel caravan across the vast golden dunes of the Empty Quarter at sunrise, with long shadows stretching across the sand and endless desert extending to the horizon.

+ Blog, Cultural Exploration, Exploration History, Middle East, Photography & Storytelling, Saudi Arabia, Visual Anthropology

Across the Sands of Time: What Wilfred Thesiger Can Still Teach Us About Photography, Arabia, and Exploration

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A new academic study examines the influential work of photographer Wilfred Thesiger, who captured the Arabian Peninsula between 1945 and 1950. His extensive photographic archive, which includes iconic images of the Empty Quarter, shaped Western perceptions of Arabia, presenting a timeless and unmodernized landscape. The study by Roba AlSalibi raises critical questions about authenticity and the nature of photographic representation, emphasizing that photos reflect both the subject and the photographer’s perspective. It urges readers to consider how cultural narratives evolve and acknowledges the rapid transformation of Saudi Arabia while recognizing the enduring landscapes that still inspire exploration and curiosity.

+ A wild jaguar walks along a riverbank in Brazil's Pantanal at sunrise, surrounded by wetlands and abundant wildlife.

+ Blog, Brazil, Education and Conservation, Nature Photography, South America, Wildlife

Why Brazil’s Pantanal Is the Best Place on Earth to See Jaguars

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The Pantanal in Brazil is the world’s largest tropical wetland and an exceptional destination for observing jaguars in the wild. With open habitats and abundant wildlife, visitors can witness jaguars swimming, hunting, and raising cubs in a scenic environment. Ecotourism here promotes conservation, making every sighting a memorable experience.

+ Illustration depicting the cultural journey of the Silk Road from Central Asia to Japan, with a camel caravan crossing desert landscapes that gradually transition into lush mountains, Buddhist temples, and a Japanese torii gate at sunrise.

+ Blog, Culture & Heritage, History & Heritage, Japan, Silk Road, Travel Inspiration

How the Silk Road Reached Japan: A Journey Across Asia Through Art, Faith, and Culture

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The Silk Road was not just a trade route but a cultural bridge linking East Asia to Europe. It facilitated the exchange of goods, ideas, and beliefs, notably Buddhism, which transformed Japanese culture. Artist Ikuo Hirayama advocated for Silk Road heritage, emphasizing the importance of cultural connections over time.

+ Asia, Blog, Cultural Exploration, South Korea, Women of the World

The Haenyeo of South Korea: The Extraordinary Women Who Dive With the Sea

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The Haenyeo, or “Women of the Sea,” are a remarkable community of free-diving women from Jeju Island, South Korea. For generations, they have harvested marine life using traditional techniques and knowledge, prioritizing sustainability and community. As they age, fewer young divers are continuing this cultural legacy, recognized by UNESCO for its heritage significance.

+ Our latest story explores Great Missenden, the Roald Dahl Museum, and the woodland trails that inspired generations of imagination—along with a personal reflection from a memorable family journey across the United Kingdom.

+ Blog, Books & Storytelling, Cultural Exploration, England, Literary Travel

Beneath the Woods of Roald Dahl: A Journey to Great Missenden and the Imagination of Childhood

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In the quiet English countryside of Buckinghamshire, imagination still seems to live between the trees A little girl runs through the open fields near Great Missenden before disappearing into the woodland tunnel, as though stepping gently from the real world into the beginning of a Roald Dahl story. Photo © Kike Calvo Here are museums designed to preserve history. And then there are places … Read More Beneath the Woods of Roald Dahl: A Journey to Great Missenden and the Imagination of Childhood

+ A large pot of traditional perpetual beef broth simmers in a family-run kitchen in Bangkok as chefs carefully tend the decades-old stock surrounded by aromatic herbs and spices.

+ Asia, Blog, Culinary Traditions, Cultural Exploration, Curious Minds, Food & Culture, Travel & Gastronomy

A Soup That Never Ends: The Fascinating Tradition of Perpetual Stews Around the World

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In Bangkok, a family-run restaurant has maintained a “mother stock” beef broth for over 50 years, embodying the concept of perpetual stew. This culinary tradition, found globally, preserves flavors through continuous addition and careful management. It signifies heritage, memory, and community, connecting generations through shared meals.

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