Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Wander.
The Man Who Never Returned
Into the darkest untamed jungles of Amazon went Percy Fawcett, the man who never returned. The Enigma of Col. Percy Fawcett has fascinated the media and explorers ever since he vanished in the Amazon rain forest some 90 years ago. He was considered the greatest explorer of his day. Like Amelia Earhart a decade later, both leave a lasting legacy of mystery surrounding their disappearances. To first find out what motivated Percy Fawcett to undertake such perilous journeys only to vanish without a trace is to closely identify with the man himself.
By Dr. Williams7 years ago in Wander
Leaving
Summer is my favorite season. Even here, in Norfolk, when the humidity and heat become oppressive. Some days I walk down to the ocean in the early morning as the sun rises to watch the mist rise off the Chesapeake Bay. The haze disappears by the time the sun has peaked over the horizon, fading into blue sky like cigarette smoke from Poseidon.
By Gary Jacob7 years ago in Wander
Best Party Cities For Backpackers
Backpacking is often called one of the best ways to see the world, primarily because it allows people to enjoy the full spectrum of the local color. Backpacking allows you to meet new people, try new foods, and get a real up-close look at how life is abroad.
By Skunk Uzeki7 years ago in Wander
The Opening
I couldn't believe that I was in India. Looking over to my left was an alarm clock blinking 10:30 am. At this time the TV was still on, its introductory screen slowly coming in and out of actual sound in the room and my consciousness as well. I had flown into the dark, bustling city at 3 am just hours previously. It seemed that Chennai didn't need sleep, but I definitely did. Hundreds had lined up outside the airport to take guests to places around the city. I had found my connection somehow and then there was a taxi ride on a dirt road surrounded by rush hour traffic. It was dark all the while, although something in the air sensed the early day was beckoning itself in. The flight previously had been equivalent to about two days of flying. The experience was possibly close to being flushed down a toilet and arriving in another world. "Was it possible to be water logged by time?" I felt that right then. Outside people were now working in the blazing daylight. I was in the cool interior of a room. India was packed tightly around me, but there was no judgement. Everybody lived together, weaved in together, made sense together. This was apparent and it was new and unique. I was there to attend "The Oneness Partners Course" with Oneness University. It was a process that I had started four years prior. A deep Chennai sun blossomed slowly over the sky lighting up the world for millions of people as they began another day in their life. I just happened to be present as well in that part of the world. My life was weaving in with India I realized right then.
By Sound And The Messenger7 years ago in Wander
Quest of the Phoenix 2017 (2)
I rose at about 6:45 and hit the road by 8:30. The plan was to follow the directions I’d looked up on my phone to the local Firestone. However, the area around my motel consisted, in addition to construction sites, also of a bizarre sea of interlocking parking lots with no real “town” amongst them and streets and street signs that operated in ways I hadn’t seen before, so I ended up bungling around for awhile in that area, then driving across a highway into the actual downtown area, which was just as bad, involving narrow one-way streets and wandering lanes. After a bit, I just said “screw this” and opted to hit the freeway for Omaha.
By Nathan Sturm7 years ago in Wander
Visit the Dead Sea While You Still Can
The Dead Sea is one of the world’s most famous bodies of water. Its lunar landscape, curative mud and saline water — on the surface of which is possible to lie and take a nap without worrying about drowning — attract over 1.7 million tourists a year. The Dead Sea is roughly 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. Unfortunately, this may not be the case for much longer.
By Uly Spitts7 years ago in Wander
The City That Never Sleeps
On first impressions, it seemed to be less alien than I imagined. When you sit and think about how different our two countries are, you tend to imagine there to be guns visible at every glance, patriotic nationalists bombarding you from all forgotten angles, and a pale green cat... A cat bigger than any building you've seen before, just there... Towering over the city... With dollar signs for eyes and a laugh that you just can't seem to run from... A cat that has paws bigger than clouds, that boom together when he makes that money rain... But, to my disappointment, he wasn't there, and neither was the rain... Neither were the anti-abortion activists spouting their brainwashed hypocrisy, neither was the young African American man who was shot and killed before my very eyes, and all the other people on the street who trivially walk by... Just me, and my eyebrow raised.
By Charli Knight7 years ago in Wander
Paris of the 90s
So, what first struck me when I entered the arrivals terminal at Václav Havel Airport were the select few people that sat awkwardly, smoking in a glass room. A room which was built into one of the long, clinical white walls, with heavy window panes. You know the kind, the kind that resemble something out of the Starship Enterprise.
By Charli Knight7 years ago in Wander
New Orleans
New Orleans is well known for the Mardi Gras. People from around the country visit to dress in costume, drink, watch the parades as they go down the small streets of the French Quarter and when the police aren't looking bare their chests so as to have beads thrown at them from people on floats in the parade.
By Kate Adams7 years ago in Wander
What's That Smell?
We all know with every country comes its own quirky customs and cultures. Us Brits are the best for forcing our superior traditions on to "foreigners" with such barefaced yet subliminal effort. But the nation I've come to speak of today is a nation that has many customs that are widely accepted ways of behaving, but ones to which I find particularly strange. In what world is it normal to leave babies outside in sub zero temperatures? Nor is it appetising to eat the flesh of fish marinated in piss?
By Charli Knight7 years ago in Wander
The Bucket List
By definition, The Bucket List is a number of experiences or adventures that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. As depicted in the movie The Bucket List with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, the definition is oh so true. In the movie, we have two men who have been stricken with cancer and are in the same hospital room. Jack Nicholson plays a millionaire and if I remember correctly Morgan Freeman's career is working in a garage to support his family. As the movie plays on, both men have a bucket list and against the doctor's orders both leave the hospital to achieve as many adventures as they can on their lists before they die. For those who have not seen the movie, I am not going to ruin it by telling you the whole story. You will have to watch The Bucket List" in its entirety to find out what happens during their adventures.
By Kate Adams7 years ago in Wander