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In college, I was lucky enough to participate in the Semester at Sea program via the University of Virginia. Along with 500 other international college students, I took a ship more than 24,000 nautical miles (or approximately 27,000 regular miles) around the world.

One of our ports of call was Ghana, and because of my affinity for service work I was connected with a small group that was invited to participate in a three-day volunteer homestay in the Senase Village near the Ivory Coast for the price of $300 USD.  The village was extremely rural and self-sustainable. There would be no plumbing or running water. The way they disposed of their trash was by throwing it into a giant, two story pile near the outskirts of the village. I walked past this pile every day while staying in Senase. On the second day, I saw a dead dog unceremoniously dumped on the side. On the third, the dog was gone: dinner.

March 17, 2014: India celebrates the end of winter with the Festival of Colors 

via National Geographic

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One of our favorite things: food art. This time in the form of miniature worlds. 

Nichole Sobecki/AFP Blog

If the world were reduced to a village of 100 people... it's a lot easier to visualize the diversity and inequality that exists. Some of the statistics are quite shocking (like the rarity of computers).

To see more of Toby Ng's minimalistic infographics visit 

Artist Simon Beck doesn't paint or draw to create his masterpieces. His method: walking (for miles upon miles). His medium: snow (fresh, of course).

In a valley of Mont Blanc, and with carefully placed footsteps, Beck creates wonderful mathematical designs that call to mind the colored sand mandalas of Tibetan buddhists. 

It takes a special kind of compulsion to make these ephemeral works of art, but fortunately we have these aerial photographs to marvel at them while they last.

Chamonix Skywalk

Continuing with trend of stomach-dropping heights, this glass box in the French Alps gives you the sensation of floating in mid air.