Women In Tourism—How Ride 4 A Woman Changes Lives In Uganda

03/08/21 • 45 min

Women’s fair-trade craft cooperatives around the world have changed the game for so many families. As part of our series on changing female roles in tourism, we look at one inspiring version of this concept where Kathryn has spent meaningful time: Ride 4 A Woman, a compelling place on the edge of Uganda’s mountain gorilla territory of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

In this episode, we talk to Ride 4 A Woman founder Evelyn Habasa about her mother’s dream to help the women of their community, and how the organization has grown from bicycle tours to sewing and weaving, plus a microfinance program and accommodations for travelers.

Next, we turn to Susie Crippen, a fashion designer and cofounder of J Brand jeans about how she partnered with Evelyn to launch a dress line called 4, hand-sewn by the ladies of Ride 4 A Woman. Follow them @ride4awoman, @susiecrippen and @thisis4official for more on their work and products.

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Environmentally Sensitive Architecture in the World’s Most Beautiful Places

There are stunning examples of innovative architecture and design in hotels all over this great planet, some of which we have been privileged enough to visit over the course of our travels. But the most impressive are those hospitality ventures that haven’t taken over a landscape, but have instead become part of it, quietly.

In this episode, we first speak with Reda Amalou, architect and founder of AW2, who allowed the dynamic topography of Costa Rica’s Papagayo Peninsula to guide his low-impact designs for the intimate yet sprawling beach and jungle retreat, Kasiiya Papagayo.

On the other side of the world, on the tiny yet lush Christmas Island, Swell Lodge is the result of wildlife photographers and guides Chris and Jess Bray’s passion for what’s sometimes referred to as the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean.”

What Kasiiya and Swell Lodge have in common is a reverence for the natural environment that runs so deep they have not sought to change it. Listen to the episode for more from these visionaries, and follow them on Instagram at @kasiiyapapagayo, @redaamaloudesign, @aw2_architecture, @swelllodge and @chrisbrayphotography.

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Rediscovering Los Angeles–A Lockdown Love Letter To Our City

Every great travel writer should start with a mastery of her or his own backyard. During the coronavirus travel lockdowns of the past year, that’s why we were both inspired to explore hidden corners of our hometown, Los Angeles.

We took a (sanctioned and pre-arranged) hike up to the iconic Hollywood Sign to learn more about this landmark’s checkered past, talked to writer and architecture expert Jessica Ritz about some of the city’s underappreciated design gems, and interviewed Amy Luftig-Viste and Jasper Dickson of Angeleno Wine Co. about the city’s past as a wine-producing powerhouse.

Our three conversations all uncovered fascinating facets to Los Angeles that have us viewing our adopted hometown through a whole new lens.