exploreteam

E3, congrats on your resolve to "just do it" and see what India has to offer - or at least how it will change you. If you really are interested in getting a bit more off the beaten path, and perhaps seeing some of the great work that nonprofits are doing in the places you plan to visit, check out the India section of our website: http://explore.org/explore/india. You will find video profiles of several small NGOs in Varanasi and Jaipur that may be worth visiting while you are there. Just a suggestion for a different angle on India...

Massai Maasai tribe, Tanzania. Known for their signature bright red clothing and tall stature.

symbol of China Giant Pandas, Wolong Panda Reserve, Sichuan

Al Mekkia House, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia On a grant-making trip to the Middle East, we witnessed some incredible buildings, but this shot captures the way Islamic architects use patterns and doorways to almost mystify spatial relationships. The man in this picture is actually a member of our group.

Al Mekkia House, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia On a grant-making trip to the Middle East, we witnessed some incredible buildings, but this shot captures the way Islamic architects use patterns and doorways to almost mystify spatial relationships. The man in this picture is actually a member of our group.

Hi Tim. So glad you found us and enjoyed the snapshot from Jeddah. Your trip next year across Europe and the Middle East sounds amazing, and we are excited for you!

As far as recommendations, definitely the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul, as featured in this video: http://explore.org/explore/middleeast/films/173. If you poke around our Middle East library of films and photos, you might be inspired by some of the other destinations, too.

We'll look forward to seeing your photographs...

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Islamic architecture explores the idea of space - walls, doorways, windows all blend into one. We love the intricate patterns, too.

explore China

Hi all - we are the "explore team" - a group that travels around the world and documents stories of nonprofits doing great work. We do have a lot of resources on China, if you're interested in learning more about...

Giant Pandas

China's environmental leaders

Education of women and children in rural areas

We've also got a lot of inside looks at cultural and historical places, like Emperor Qin's tomb and the Three Gorges Dam.

It's all at http://explore.org/explore/china

Have fun exploring!

History of Surfing - North Shore of Oahu

Want to know more about lifeguard and surf legends Duke Kahanamoku and Eddie Aikau? Watch Maui Film Festival award-winner Guardians of the Sea - http://explore.org/explore/hawaii/films/150

Inside a food storage tent, Darfur, Sudan From markets with plenty to a country where millions of people are starving. The World Food Programme brings in food aid and distributes it all over the Darfur region in giant convoys. (For more pics, see http://explore.org/explore/africa/gallery/1/1226)

Gorillas in Rwanda On a trip to Rwanda, we had the opportunity to visit four families of wild mountain gorillas, a species with only 720 remaining members. We were fortunate to have Craig Sholley, who has been intimately involved in the preservation of African wildlife for more than 30 years, as our guide.