Maarten Schäfer

Ceremony into the Sacred Waters of Tirta Empul We arrived at Tirta Empul just after breakfast, trying to beat the crowds. Our guide, Made, was already waiting near the temple gate. “You came on a good day,” he said. “Not too many people. But enough to feel the energy.” We followed him through the entrance. Inside the temple complex, everything felt calm and focused. No blaring music, no sales…

Our Balinese Morning with Brazilian Friends We met Wallace, Luiz, and Christian at Mandapa, the Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Ubud. Fit, funny, and full of energy, they were hard to miss, especially at 7 a.m. lifting weights like it was nothing. We bumped into them again over breakfast, started chatting (in a mix of English and Portuguese), and realized we had the same plan for the day: Tirta Empul,…

As the glass doors of the cable car close, I feel a small thrill. Anouk and I stand shoulder to shoulder as the cabin begins its slow climb away from the ground. Below us, the streets of Rio shrink, and the bay starts to open up like a map. “This is higher than I expected,” Anouk says, gripping the railing lightly.I smile. “We’re just getting started.” Sugarloaf Mountain has always been on my…

Crossing the SaddleFrom Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut – 10 km – 3,720 m to 4,700 m We left Horombo Hut after breakfast, stepping out into wide, open space. The moorland we had grown used to was thinning fast. The air was drier. The vegetation sparse. This was the start of the saddle, a broad, high-altitude plain between the twin peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. The landscape had changed again. No trees. No…

Summit Night Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak and back to Mandara Hut – 6 km ascent, 18 km descent – 4,700 m to 5,895 m and down to 2,700 m We left Kibo Hut just after midnight. Headlamps on. Layers zipped. Water bottles tucked close to keep them from freezing. The mountain was silent except for the crunch of boots on volcanic scree. It’s like walking on dry gravel or marbles. Every step up can slide…

“Life above the clouds” From Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut – 12 km – 2,700 m to 3,720 m (12,200 feet) It’s 6 a.m. A knock on the door of our hut. It’s Tony – one of our nine crew members – standing outside with a small plastic container of warm water and a smile. “Here is wash water,” he says. “Breakfast is ready in 20 minutes.” We splash our faces, stretch our legs, and step outside into the…

Named by Business Week as one of ‘The World’s Most Influential Headhunters,’ Janice Reals Ellig is CEO of The Ellig Group, a boutique executive search firm in New York City, with a global affiliation as a member of IIC Partners, a Top 10 executive search organization comprised of independently owned and managed executive search firms in 34 countries. Continue reading MEETING JANICE REALS ELLIG,…

Longevity is on everyone’s mind. It’s being studied in labs, tracked by wearables, and pursued through expensive diagnostics. And yet, much of what helps us live longer has been with us all along.  After more than 20 years in the Hospitality & Wellness Industry I’ve seen both sides. The high-tech, high-budget approaches. And the quieter, slower practices that don’t make headlines. As a lifelong…

Innovating with Intention. Leading with Impact. Throughout my career — as a university president, a CEO, and an engineer — I have been at the helm of large-scale transformations. Many leaders speak of five- or ten-year strategic plans; I’ve always believed in accelerating change. When I took on the role of President at Texas Southern University, I didn’t wait to set things in motion. Within two…

“Let’s start where it all began,” I said, as Anouk and I stepped out of our Uber in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. It felt like the right way to begin our journey through Atlanta—a city where history, culture, and progress live side by side. The morning air was crisp, and the mood was quiet and reflective as we walked past Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King…

In the heart of Ouidah, a city steeped in history and spirituality, I found myself amidst the pulsating energy of the annual Voodoo Festival. This celebration draws both the curious and the devout from across the world. My journey as a storyteller in West Africa led me to this vibrant event held in the enigmatic Sacred Forest, a place revered in Voodoo culture. The festival, an explosion of…