Compass
Dharavi, in central Mumbai, is considered one of the largest slums in Asia, but deep within this neighborhood, below the shanty grey roofs, loosely comprised of scavenged, upcycled metal, lives a resourceful and innovative community that plays an imperative role in Mumbai’s city-wide waste management.
The best way to travel with the intent of exploring diversity is to ditch the touristy places. Sometimes, tourist attractions bring people from all over the world — the Grand Canyon or Disneyland, for example.
The Maldives islands are home to more than a thousand coral reefs, vibrant ecosystems that provide a home for marine life.
Over four years in the early 1970s, Cambodia, a Southeast Asian country now frequented by backpacking tourists, faced one of the worst human atrocities imaginable-- a state-sponsored genocide wiping out one-third of the nation’s population.
The Scottish Highlands are a place of ancient history, stunning natural beauty, and magic. Among the older generations, some claim that high in its earthy hills you’ll find the homes of creatures only heard about in legend.
Known as Pueblos Magicos, (magical towns), these gems of Nayarit are recognized by the Mexican government for their unique cultural or historical significance. The hamlets are prime destinations for visitors seeking more than pristine coastal sands.
In 1917, a group of women was forcibly shoved into freezing prison “punishment” cells, brutally injured by male guards, and left to survive the night without medical treatment—simply because they wanted to vote. While many people take this privilege for granted today, the battle for women to represent themselves at the ballot box was hard-fought and hard-won—yet can still easily be taken away.
Although dwarfed by Manila’s staggering 28 million people, Cebu City, the second largest urban center, and its one million proud citizens, have something to say about what’s cool in the Philippines.
Phyllis Wilson, a retired Army veteran of 37 years and President of the Military Women’s Memorial Foundation, joins us to talk about the Memorial and two important campaigns to preserve history and honor a group of female veterans.
This is not your average hotel lobby. This is where presidents have plotted, where the Beatles hid from screaming teenagers, and where Dwight D. Eisenhower maintained his Western White House. And on this particular trip, it's where I found myself standing in the same suite where Ike once practiced his golf swing.
Women’s History Month often highlights the achievements of women from the past, which is important given the wealth of inspiring stories to tell. However, Women's History Month also presents an opportunity to celebrate women who are making history today. In Salt Lake City, Utah, you can find some of these remarkable women in the Maven District.
There are few countries in the world whose very name evokes both ancient civilizations and modern geopolitical fault lines. Iran, cradle of the Achaemenid Empire and home to Persepolis, Golestan Palace, and the Silk Road’s eastern reaches, has long intrigued travelers including me. Cultural heritage exhibitions from the National Museum of Iran have drawn crowds abroad — like the 2024 “Glory of Ancient Persia” tour that attracted tens of millions of visitors in China — and locals often speak proudly of these legacies. Yet today, the idea of visiting Iran sits in limbo because of a war that has reshaped regional mobility and frozen tourism ambitions in the dust of airspace closures and safety warnings.
