As the plane began its descent into Cusco, I looked out my window to see the red tiled roofs of an unfamiliar city. As we got closer, more of the city’s details appeared, and the more I saw how different it was from what I was used to. I had navigated through airports for 1.5 …
It was just after 1 am when I banged on the door to the hostel. After several attempts, someone finally let me in. But my hopes of a place to stay were soon-after crushed by two simple words: “we’re full”. I couldn’t believe it! I booked a room, I swear! After a lot of double …
Hundreds of elephants dead in Botswana…the culprit? Cyanobacteria [1]. These elephants aren’t the first account of a mass murder at the hands of these toxin-producing bacteria. In 1979, 148 people became very sick on Australia’s Palm Island from unknowingly drinking toxin-contaminated waters [2, 3], and in 1996, 76 people died in Brazil from exposure to …
Examining Cyanobacteria at the University of Konstanz Read More »
When I stepped out of the airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital city, I was greeted by the sweet earthy smell of the air, the commotion of the city, an unaccustomed style of clothing… I was in a land so far and different from home and yet felt at ease while buzzing with excitement for …
I was eating a chocolatine, a type of unforgettably delicious chocolate croissant, as I tilted my head back to fully view the grandeur of the massive structure before me. It was a cathedral unlike any other, some of you may know it: the Cathedral of Notre Dame. I was half expecting Quasimodo to jump out …
Deciding to renovate a van into a home is a big undertaking but an exciting step towards fulfilling a dream that some may have. Before even starting a van renovation, or before even buying the van, it’s a good idea to have a detailed plan on what you want to use the van for and …
Think about how much time you spend indoors… In general, people spend over 70% of their time inside (Health Canada, 1989). With all that time spent inside, think about all the dust you’re inevitably breathing in…It’s a lot! Dust is something we can’t evade when indoors. Unfortunately, it’s a repository for contaminants, mainly semi-volatile organic …
Why would someone give up modern comforts to live in a small, tightly packed van? It just doesn’t make sense…or does it? I was intrigued by Vanlife for the unrestricted freedom it provides and for the concept of living a more minimal lifestyle. Less things means more happiness, or so they say. I’d rather fill …
Iceland… Think boiling mud pots, geysers, hot springs, waterfalls, and volcanoes! Iceland’s abundance of geothermal activity, mountains, and coast are enough to entice any nature enthusiast, I know I was definitely intrigued! Even more endearing, is that most of Iceland’s natural treasures are accessible from the main highway (Hwy 1), known as the Ring Road, …