The most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world, Stonehenge, located in southern England, provides us with a wealth of questions left unanswered, and discoveries there so far have helped us to understand more about ceremonies during the Neolithic and Bronze ages. Its first stones were likely raised around 2300 BC, and evidence indicates that the monuments were then rearranged and in continuous use for the next 2,000 years.
Read MoreRoughly a quarter of the workforce is actively disengaged, costing the United States approximately $450-550 billion in lost productivity each year.(1) Consider that another two quarters are only partially engaged in the workplace and you can begin to calculate how much these sections of the workforce pie chart are contributing to employee turnover and decreased productivity, enthusiasm, and achievement yearly.
How is a disengaged workforce impacting each business?
Read MoreOne of the most memorable aspects of traveling can be a country’s food. The flavors. The textures. The techniques. An ingredient that is overlooked in one part of the world is, at times, the key to unforgettably delicious recipes in another region of the world.
Most food is not invented; it evolves. And history is rich with stories of how climate, society, and events intricately shaped the diversity of food habits we see around the world today.
From some of the oldest staples such as millet noodles consumed in China 4,000 years ago, before the emergence of wheat or rice noodles, to 14,000 year old bread in Jordan…
Read MoreLast month, with jaws dropped in awe, we compiled a list of some of the most mesmerizing places on Earth. The kind of natural and man-made destinations that spark our curiosity for the world, engage our senses, and have many of us reaching for the 'Book Trip Now' button.
This month you asked us to keep the wanderlust going, and we're oh so glad you did. Here are 5 more breathtaking destinations across this world that offer us the chance to learn something new, inspire our creativity, and may just deserve a spot at the top of our travel bucket lists.
Read MoreOn a planet home to colors, textures, and surprises that stimulate our senses, it's hard to choose a favorite – so why pick just one? Here are a handful of bucket list-worthy places that really do exist.
1) Son Doong Cave (Vietnam)
Han Son Doong in Vietnam's Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park is the world’s largest cave, housing many limestone grottoes, stalactites and stalagmites and home to a variety of wildlife, including monkeys, bats and flying foxes.
Read MoreHigh up in South Asia’s Eastern Himalayas, between China and India, and roughly half the size of Indiana, is the small landlocked country of Bhutan. Largely isolated from the rest of the world until the last few decades, Bhutan has been able to preserve its deep Buddhist traditions, prioritization of the family, and pristine landscapes. (The first foreign tourists were not allowed into the country until the 1970's and television and internet have only been allowed since 1999)!
Read MoreIn 1956, more than 200 designs were submitted for the new Opera House in Sydney, Australia. One year later, the futuristic and unique design by Jørn Utzon was chosen as the winner. Today, Jørn's concept is one of the world's most famous buildings, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a premier performing arts venue. The foundation of Utzon's work was built on his studies of history and nature, and his desire to interlink the two. He famously found inspiration for this design in the monumental Mayan and Aztec architecture that he studied during a trip to Central America;
Read MoreWaves of green and violet light dance across the night sky. We're miles and miles away from everything standing in a snow-filled clearing. The guide says that the sound of faint hissing or that similar to radio static often accompanies the lights, but in this moment, I hear only beautiful silence.
Finnish legend tells that the lights originated with a little arctic fox. It once ran so quickly across the snow that its tail made sparks fly into the night sky, creating the northern lights. His enthusiasm is contagious and he finishes the story with the fact that the Finnish word for northern lights literally means 'fox fire,' and a look in his eye as though surely, with this last detail, we believe the legend is true.
Escape rooms have exploded in popularity over the past few years - immersive experiences that encourage human connection where teams of friends, family, or coworkers need to solve puzzles, hints, and riddles to escape a series of rooms in under 1 hour. Imagine decoding a secret language in Ancient Egypt, finding your way out of an enchanted forest, discovering secret passages, solving a bank heist or a science lab mystery. With carefully crafted stories and themes,
Read MoreFor two hundred thousand years, it has been human nature to explore. Our curiosity drives us to discover new places and learn about the world. It is an important component of our lives, a driving force behind human progress, a bridge for peace through cultural understanding, and, as we believe at Venture Road, it is also the culprit behind an 'Interesting Facts' list being written. Today, our curiosity takes us to Japan as we share 9 Interesting Facts about the country that might surprise you.
1) The world's deepest underwater mailbox is located in Susami, Japan.
It is nighttime in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, July 1947. A wooden raft, pushed along by ocean currents, floats peacefully under the starry sky. Made of very large balsa wood logs at the base and a simple bamboo deck and half-open hut on board, the entire craft is 45 feet long and utilizes only hemp rope to hold the materials together - no nails or wire or any other form of modern technology.
Thor Heyerdahl is sitting on deck writing about the day's events in his journal. He is one of 6 men on the raft, and is also the organizer of the voyage. Two months before, they set sail from the Peruvian coast of South America with their eyes set on crossing the Pacific Ocean and arriving to the islands of Polynesia.
1) John Lennon credited this place with revitalizing his creative energy and completed more than 20 songs during his time here.
2) The official flag incorporates images that depict its history, including a shipwreck.
3) A golfer's paradise; boasting more courses per capita than any country in the world.
4) Home to a glow in the dark worm. Between the months of May and November, on the third night after the full moon, once the sun sets, these fireworms emit an intense glow as part of a mating ritual. It's a spectacular bioluminescent display that many locals and tourists alike gather to see.
Read MoreThe population exceeds more than 100 million people. Its annual growth rate of around 2% makes it one of the fastest growing countries in the world.
Mt. Pinatubo erupted here on June 15, 1991, and created the largest mushroom cloud in the world at the time. Its eruption ejected 10 billion metric tons of magma and 20 million tons of sulphur dioxide into the stratosphere.
It was the first country in Southeast Asia to gain independence after World War II.
In 1942, almost 16 million pieces of silver coins were dumped near Corregidor, one of the country's islands. Some of it remains unretrieved.
This country is the top supplier of nurses in the world.
Andrew turned the glossy page as he slumped down into the worn, but comfy chair, his neck resting on one of the arms and his feet dangling over the other. The image on the page before him, a colorful drawing of a wide river flowing through the middle of a lush jungle, at times reflecting the early night sky above in its waters, was captivating. In the river, swimming not too far from the reeds on the far bank was a manatee. With each splash of its tail, bubbles floated up into the sky and converted into the stars of the Milky Way.
Read MoreThe sky is filled with fluorescent pinks and orange. It's dawn, and the wide street is contrasted by palm trees along its borders and cars and people that are increasing in number by the minute, moving about with what feels like mid-day energy. A few feet ahead a woman with a kind smile stands behind a wooden table. It is filled with thermoses of hot coffee and a large pot of tamales wrapped in banana leaves. People stand around the table, pouring a spoonful of hot sauce made from chiles and garlic crushed just hours before, onto their tamales before each bite. Long ago the advice was given to me to….
Read MoreIt is in the early hours of the morning, and a stone path ahead winds through the ancient forest of giant redwood and pine trees. The air is crisp and earthy, as gentle rays of sun begin to make their way through the treetops, landing below on thousands of carved stone memorials, a stream, and lush vegetation.
Whether painted with autumn leaves, covered in winter snow, or abound with spring blossoms, this is considered one of the holiest places in Japan.
The mountain, known as Mount Koya and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, peaks at 2,960 feet above sea level. It has 8 peaks and a basin which resemble a lotus flower, and throughout its landscape are 117 temples, some that date back to more than 1,200 years ago.
A giant marble stone intricately carved with dragons and clouds spans the walkway leading to the Hall of Preserving Harmony. Enormous bronze statues of Ming Dynasty lions guard the gate to the larger Hall of Supreme Harmony. Expansive courtyards, monumental pavilions, and gardens decorate the walkways that connect more than 900 buildings. Many of the roofs boast statues of mythical and real animals (such as dragons, a phoenix, lions, and unicorns) each with an important symbolic role. The number of animals, an indicator of the importance of the building, the higher the number, the more powerful it is.
Read MoreFor 200,000 years, it has been human nature to explore. And, while physical travel is halted at the moment, it certainly hasn't stopped the adventurers at heart from dreaming about it.
We've witnessed many creative ways people are keeping the wanderlust spirit alive while at home. Here are just a few of them:
1 - Treat Your Home Like a Hotel
While it may not be exactly the same without daily room service, this trick may provide you with the same sense of relaxation stepping into a hotel does.
While the ancient ruins are full of intrigue and beauty, the mountains that they reside in are just as impressive themselves. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the second-highest coastal mountain range in the world and the source of 36 rivers, contains almost every ecosystem on the planet: deserts, alpine lakes, rainforests, wetlands, tundra, coral reefs, & glaciers. The mosaic of habitats and species found here are like nowhere else on Earth. Separated from the Andes mountain chain by plains & deserts, the Sierra Nevada is a self-contained microcosm of diverse ecoregions & lifeforms containing thick, misty jungles, snow capped peaks, rare and unusual species, & isolated indigenous people rich with culture and tradition, all of which steep these mountains in myth and wisdom.
Read MoreWith our mission always close to our hearts, it's our joy to watch our Venturers eyes' sparkle with inspiration throughout our intention-filled programs. Who do you know whose life could be changed by this type of experience?
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