The Secret To The Dalai Lama's Popularity

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BUDDHISM:  With the goal of inner peace and the charm of a simple monk, what's behind the Dalai Lama's celebrity status?  More »

Are Americans Afraid of Overseas Travel?

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TRAVEL NEWS:  Overseas travel continues to decline for Americans, while travel to Mexico and Canada is up. Does this have to do with the economic downturn, or deeper issues around cultural ignorance and political awareness?  More »

Heroic Travel: Navigating the Mythic Journey

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SPIRITUAL TRAVEL:  In part two of a three-part essay, Daniel Harbecke shows travelers how to find their way on the "Hero’s Journey" of Joseph Campbell.  More »

Interview: Patrick Shen On The Power Of Death Anxiety

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INTERVIEWS:  Filmmaker Patrick Shen shares his thoughts how the fear of death influences ourselves and society in very real ways.   More »

Prostitution Rocks! SuperFreakonomics on the Oldest Profession in the World

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POP CULTURE:  Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner's new book, Superfreakonomics, attempts to position prostitution in a whole new light. But do they cover the whole story or warp reality?  More »

The Ultimate Guide To Vipassana Meditation

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CONSCIOUSNESS:  Want to try meditation but unsure where to start? This handy guide to Vipassana (insight) meditation will kickstart your journey on the path to nirvana.  More »

Death Becomes Them: Who are the Highest Earning Saints?

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RELIGION:  Looks like Hollywood stars aren't the only ones to bring in the big bucks after their death. But when it comes to money and sainthood, are we asking a bit too much of our saviors?  More »

A Moment Of Reflection For Women The World Over

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CONSCIOUSNESS:  Christine Garvin takes a look at what it means to be a woman in the 21st century, where assault, rape, and slavery are all still employed on a large scale as tactics of oppression.  More »

Questionable Religious Beliefs: Watch Out, You Might Go To Jail Over Them

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RELIGION:  A UK couple may end up in the slammer due to offensive comments made to Muslims. Is the arrest valid, or are the police taking the situation a little too far?  More »

Is Eckhart Tolle Trying to Be God?

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RELIGION:  The man behind "The Power of Now" and "A New Earth" seems to be ruffling a few religious leader's feathers with his message that God and man are one in the same.  More »

Interview: Christoph Rehage On Wacky Beards And Taking The Longest Way

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INTERVIEWS:  Meet Christoph Rehage, the walker with the most famous time-lapse beard on the internet.  More »

Heroic Travel: Joseph Campbell and the Power of Mythic Journey

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SPIRITUAL TRAVEL:  In this three-part essay, Daniel Harbecke explores our potential for inner travel through the work of mythologist Joseph Campbell.  More »

Fear and Loathing: How Risk of Injury Can Inhibit Travel Plans

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LIFE:  Megan Hill suffered an injury while traveling abroad in Vancouver, BC. The experience made her wonder if her dream to travel to remote places was finished.  More »

Culture Of Fear: How The Media Killed The H1N1 Flu Shot

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HEALTH:  As the swine flu vaccine hits the clinics, many people are, surprisingly, opting out. Here's how the media created this unintended consequence.  More »

Why Culture Snobs Need To Stop Hating Hollywood

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FILM / MUSIC:  The plastic glory of Hollywood is revered and reviled the world over. Natalie Grant thinks we need to celebrate escapism as much as indie reality.   More »

Photo Essay: Eisa Dancing In Buddhist Okinawa

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PHOTOGRAPHY:  From the solemn prayers of Buddhist monks and ritual dances performed during Obon, Okinawans developed their own style of dance.  More »

Localwashing: Shop Locally at Your Neighborhood Corporate Store

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CULTURE:  Corporations are co-opting the "shop local" movement. What does this mean for travelers trying to support their destination's local restaurants and shops?  More »

The Lonely World Of A Traveling Reader

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CULTURE:  Shannon Dunlap, expat in Cambodia, finds solace in her books, yet remains at risk of losing connection with the culture around her.  More »

Are Long-Term Travelers Avoiding "Real" Life?

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LIFE:  Long term traveler Nomadic Matt wonders why he is constantly met with the question, "What are you running away from?" BNT writers have searched for the answer for quite some time.  More »

Travel Torture: Personal Implications of Cultural Consumption

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SPIRITUAL TRAVEL:  We've all experienced more than a few annoyances while traveling. But how often do we look at the 'why' of our continued need to travel?  More »

From the Editor

Interview: Patrick Shen On The Power Of Death Anxiety

Filmmaker Patrick Shen shares his thoughts how the fear of death influences ourselves and society in very real ways.


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