WHEN LAUREL FANTAUZZO moved to the Philippines, she thought it’d be easy: it was her mother’s home country, and she expected it to be a “magical, instant embrace.” But she had a tough time with adjusting to the country and retreated into herself. This all changed when she met and fell in love with another visitor to the country: she began to see the Philippines through new eyes.

This video is an animation of Laurel Fantauzzo’s wonderful column for the Modern Love series in the New York Times, which goes into further detail about the relationship and what happened.

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IT WASN’T EASY to dodge the other visitors, but since we came on a rainy, off-peak day, it was still possible to take some shots without the photobombs.

Going to Kulen Mountain was a nice surprise. I thought I’d be seeing ruins in a dense jungle, Tomb Raider style, but it turned out this was the Sunday getaway place for the locals. I wasn’t expecting to get shots of a lot of people, but it was nice to get a feel for how rural life ran.

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IT was 3am when I arrived at the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. Myself and another photographer made the impromptu trip, departing Toronto at 1:30am to ensure we arrived with time to set up in the best position before the sun rose. Niagara Falls is completely different in the early morning, quiet except for the falls and with the air of the small town it once was; by the late morning and early afternoon it’s full of tourists and tour buses and the whole atmosphere changes.

On this morning it was drizzling, and the air was crisp as it was mid-September. We paced around waiting for the light to arrive while trying to keep our lenses dry. We chatted to stay awake and alert and excited — and then the light began to arrive. The rain stopped. The mist that hangs over the Falls let up a bit, and what remained began catching the light. Not another soul was around. We fell completely silent, that agreed silence between photographers who are encroaching on a special image — all that was left was the enormous roar of the water and the quiet clicks of the cameras.

As the morning light finally fell on the falls, it was magic. They changed colours a dozen times over the process of the sun rising — blues, pinks, oranges, and purples all came to say hello. After I captured this image, the image I was really seeking to get, with all the pastel colours and lit-up mist and a slightly longer exposure to get the rush of the water, I broke our silence with a joyous whoop. The early rise, the drive, the chilly air — it was all worth it for this one image.

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Watch the Earth like you’ve never before, from the International Space Station (ISS), 350 kilometres away from our planet’s surface.

Guillaume Juin compiled shots from five ISS expeditions to make this vivid time-lapse and the result is brilliant in every possible way. The array of colours and lights visible from space is astonishing, and the details astronauts can observe from this distance are impressive. “The little green and purple lights you can see at 1’57 are respectively fishing boats and oil platforms offshore with the big city of Bangkok nearby”, explains the filmmaker.

Give it a watch and feel your world shrink into a ball of light as the ISS spins around the earth at 28,000 kilometres per hour.

Credit: Guillaume Juin and Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center

Feature image: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center

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FLIGHT ATTENDANTS HAVE a rough job. Not only do they have to deal with irritated, demanding, and childish passengers, but they sometimes have to deal with sexist jackasses who complain about their physical appearance. Flight attendants of at least one airline, however, have a company that will back them up.

Passenger Andres Horacio Pignataro posted a particularly sexist remark on Aerolineas Argentinas’ Facebook page, and got this awesome response from their communications team:

The translation of his comment is roughly: “What gets my attention is the low quality of the company’s hostesses. They used to be tall, slender, and they commanded respect. Now they are all short and fat and leave much to be desired in appearance in flight.”

Instead of responding by ignoring the dick as they justifiably could have, they chose to respond with their list of requirements for the position of flight attendant: They must be over 18, they must be Argentine citizens, they must have graduated high school, they must have a TCP license, they must be between 5’4” and 5’7” tall for women or 5’7” and 6’1” for men, they must know English, and they must know how to swim. Aerolineas Argentinas finished their requirements with this little barb:

“Prejudice doesn’t fly: we leave it on the ground.”

Well done, Aerolineas Argentinas. Well done.

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1. Your coworkers and family members know the exact time to come to you with requests, based on whether or not you’ve consumed your first coffee of the day.

2. You secretly have an oral fixation, and drinking coffee is the only appropriate way to satisfy that.

3. You Instagram your coffee the way people Instagram their pets.

4. You’ve stopped caring about the “quality” of your brew. You will either have one cup of the good stuff, or seven cups of the watered-down coffee you get with your morning croissant. Sometimes, you purposely opt for the latter just to take more coffee breaks.

5. Your body feels physically terrible if you forget to drink your daily brew.

6. PSYCH! You’ve never forgotten to drink coffee.

7. You drink coffee before your workout to energize you, and after to wind you down.

8. You can identify a type of coffee and where it’s grown from a single sip, and comment on its body, flavor enhancements, and other characteristics like some sort of coffee sommelier.

9. You stock up on packs of Orbitz gum and ZOOM! Teeth Whitening Groupons to maintain non-coffee-breath/stained dental hygiene.

10. Caffeine has no effect on your system. It’s like, whatever, I’m just going to be awake my whole life.

11. You secretly worry that you’ll develop ulcers from too much acid intake, and that a cup of coffee is the only thing that will calm your fears.

12. You would totally spend almost $400 to purchase this device.

13. You have a Starbucks secret menu item named after you, and it’s purchased mainly by teenage girls.

14. You’ve curated a mini-gallery showcasing your most creatively coffee-stained paperwork.

15. Coffee is the best relationship you’ve ever had; it’s there for you when you need it the most, it gets you through the day, and most importantly, IT’S HOT!

16. You attribute your best days to how much coffee you drank.

17. You blame your worst days on how much coffee you drank.

18. You’ve graduated from whipped cream-covered Frappucinos to straight up black coffee. The darker and thicker the better.

19. You roll your eyes whenever someone asks if you “like your coffee like you like your men.” But deep down inside, it’s pretty true.

20. You are personally invested in your local coffee house. As in, you bought stock in the company (or at least contributed to a Kickstarter).

21. Coffee-flavored foods are your favorite, but at the same time, feel somewhat like a farce. Coffee is a meal. At least, in your opinion.

22. You own or have owned a Keurig, a Moka pot, a Mr. Coffee, a Chemex, a coffee bean grinder, an espresso machine, a Gene Café coffee roaster, a Handpresso, a French Press, a Hario Bouno Coffee Drip Kettle, and a mug you bought from Spencer’s Gifts.

23. You drink coffee as a comfort thing. It warms your hands as you walk down the street on a cold day, soothes you after a harsh fight, and reassures that you’ll get.shit.done.

24. Fetching coffee as an intern was not a begrudging task for you.

25. If you could just marry coffee, you’d totally do it.

26. You plan your vacations around coffee. Scandinavia and Italy are your favorite choices, with Australia coming in a close second. You avoid places like China, Portugal, and India. Yeah they have Starbucks, but it’s just easier to be surrounded by coffee fiends.

27. You judge tea drinkers. It’s stupid, and totally uncalled for, but you know you do it.

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1. On the same day, you’ve skied, hiked, and swam outdoors.

There’s not too many places in the United States where you can head up to the mountains to ski, hike a mountain trail on your way back home, then take a few laps in an outdoor pool, all in a twelve-hour period. More than a few Denverites can claim that accomplishment, especially in April when all three activities are possible.

2. You know there’s no other concert venue besides Red Rocks.

It started with U2’s seminal concert in 1983. Then other musical acts followed with their concerts from this incredible natural amphitheater. With its dramatic russet sedimentary formations and its panoramic view of the city 15 miles away, Red Rocks is an unforgettable experience. If you go to any other place in the world to see a concert, you know the very best one is waiting for you back at home.

3. You choose craft beers over Coors, anytime, any day.

Coors was once a small brewer that produced such a superior product people made the pilgrimage to Colorado just to get a six-pack. Now that beer gets passed over in favor of one of the twenty-two craft and artisan breweries in and around the metro area. Check out Great Divide or Breckenridge to know how we roll in Denver. Be jealous.

4. No matter the weather or the forecast, you always dress in multiple layers.

Kids raised in Denver learn this lesson early on. A simple t-shirt and pants, no matter how nice the weather currently looks, are often not sufficient. If you’re going to deal with the bone-chill of 22° in the morning and the balmy 60° just a few hours later, you need to be prepared. A fleece vest and a down jacket are staples for anyone from Denver.

5. You never leave the house without sunscreen, lip balm, and a Nalgene bottle.

Our Boy Scout preparedness applies to more than just clothes. Being at a mile high in elevation means we truly are closer to the sun, as well as a little more oxygen-depleted. That can’t stop us, though. We hydrate and protect, and get on our way.

6. Orange and blue runs in your bloodstream.

Yes, Denver has other sports teams — the lowly Rockies, the even lowlier Nuggets, and the somewhere in-between Avalanche. There’s even a professional soccer team, the Rapids, as well as a semi-pro lacrosse team. But no organization captures the hearts and minds of the city’s people like the Broncos, whether they win or lose. Even in the offseason, Broncomania is everywhere. Get used to it.

7. Your neck hairs stand up when someone calls Denver a cow town.

Every January, the National Western Stock Show heralds its arrival with a cattle drive down 17th Street. It’s events like these that strengthen the city’s reputation of being stuck in the old frontier days of ranches and cowhands, even as it’s gone through many other identities through history. But as Denver natives will tell you, there’s a lot more here than one big rodeo.

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1. There’s ice in everything. EVERYTHING.

Your taste buds haven’t been this freezing for years. Is it refreshing? You’re not sure. It’s actually kind of annoying, your drink being watered down before you even get to the bottom and all. But, hey — at least there are free refills! You bet your bottom dollar you’re going to take advantage of it. Only three cubes of ice this time, please.

2. Two words: free bathrooms.

Nope, the Louvre doesn’t cost €16 and it won’t take six hours to wander through. It’s actually €17 if you include the price for the bathroom and another 30 minutes spent waiting in line for the toilet, at least if you’re female. In your travels, you needed at least 20 to 50 cents wherever you went, whether you were gazing at a masterpiece or at a bucket next to a hole in the ground. But not anymore, suckers! You’re back stateside wandering into every restroom you can for free. You’re using wads of the supplied in-stall toilet paper, you’re using the toilet seat covers because there are toilet seats, you’re sometimes washing your hands with conveniently placed plush towels, and it’s great. Ah, America. 239 years and you’ve finally gotten something right.

3. The cereal aisles are endless.

Before you venture into the cereal aisle, you’d better prepare yourself. A lot has changed since you’ve been gone. They now have cereals in any shape you desire and in any color or nuance of flavor you can imagine. There’s gluten-free, low-carb, high-protein, high-fiber, and high-everything to consider. There’s even “smor’z” and “toast” in cereal form, too (both of which are totally necessary and an improvement upon the real thing). The options are there whether you want them or not, and it’ll make you feel strangely powerful.

And if you find yourself asking, “Why?” the answer is simple. In the words of the ever-patriotic John Green, “The essence of democracy is the freedom to choose among hundreds of brightly colored breakfast cereals.” You’re welcome, founding fathers. We’ve truly put your ideas into action and created a more prosperous union.

4. Fast food is at your fingertips.

McDonald’s. Burger King. Wendy’s. Taco Bell. Hardee’s. Arby’s. KFC. Long John Silver’s. Pizza Hut. Jack in the Box. Sonic. Chick-Fil-A. If you’re lucky, you may find all of these in one place like some sort of commercialized utopia for American pride and accomplishment. The ultimate back-home challenge: How many Starbucks can you manage to get in one picture?

5. All of a sudden you can understand everything going on around you.

Sensory overload, man. You spent the past weeks, months, or maybe even years tuning everything out because it was gibberish anyway. It was kind of nice being able to be in a semi-meditative state at all times. You traipsed about in your own little world, drawing your attention to whatever you decided deserved your focus. And then BAM. You’re back home, and the world has opened up again. There are conversations everywhere, there’s music that has actual words, there are signs begging to be read on every street corner, every building, and even on the road distracting you while you’re driving. Hell, menus take days to read. How do you choose which signs to grace with your stare, which conversations to accidentally overhear, and which music to sing along with?! You didn’t understand First World problems until now.

6. For once, nobody’s staring at you.

Ahh, bliss. You blend right in. What a relief! But you can’t really blame your not-American friends for treating us like zoo animals — you’ve been gone so long you find yourself staring at white people yourself. You stare at people who are shades of tan, too. You just stare at everyone. Huh. Weird. That’s not okay in America, is it? You might want to drop that habit. People might get offended or think you’re up to something. Are you?

7. Everyone just got a little fatter.

Depending on where you are, they’re either slightly fatter or much, much fatter. And yes, that’s the only scale you have to work with.

8. Your waitress is upset you’re at her table for an hour and a half.

All you wanted was a Coca-Cola and some freedom fries, geez. She’s been over there huffing in the corner sending you the evil eye for a solid 15 minutes. How does anyone drink 44 oz of soda in less than two hours? keeps wandering through your mind.

9. …And you even have to tip her.

Why? Because it’s your moral duty as a good American. Even though that waitress is huffing and puffing, you’ve still got to make sure she gets a livable wage. It’s a good thing you remembered, too, or next time you might’ve gotten a “special” milkshake. Man, it was so much simpler before when less math was involved. Move the decimal, divide in half…

10. The portion sizes are bigger than your head.

The fries are the size of baseball bats, and the milkshake comes in two containers: a glass one and a tin one, because by “one chocolate shake,” Americans know you actually meant two. In fact, everything is bigger, come to think of it. Your table is bigger. The chair is bigger. The parking spot your oversized car is in is bigger. Your butt feels a little bigger, too.

11. There are gyms on every corner.

And yet you still can’t find an open treadmill.

12. People don’t like Obama anymore.

It made you feel kinda sorry for the guy. And global warming? That’s now not a thing. Unless you count the heat emitted from the muzzle of our rifles, of course.

13. Kids are belligerent with their parents again.

Your Polish grandmother slapped you with a pierogi every time you stepped out of line. It got to the point where you cringed a little whenever you saw a plate of cabbage rolls. But it was nice to see that not much had changed when you went overseas. Kids were respectful and didn’t need to be begged and bribed and told three times to get their act together. Maybe you’ll take your future kids overseas from ages 2 – 8 to get them in line.

14. Senior citizens are NOT outside being active and healthy.

Your grandpa’s doppelgänger biked to the market every day or could be seen doing tai chi every morning at 6 AM in the local park. Here, grandpa and all his friends can be found eating waffles and playing poker. Not that you don’t love waffles and playing poker, too, you just wonder if grandpa would be better off and feel younger if he got moving despite his trick knee. It makes you wonder, what kind of grandparent am I going to be?

15. History just got wayyy shorter.

Your apartment building is 50 years old? Yowzah. Alert the presses! In terms of history, your stomping grounds have, like, seen almost a quarter of all “American” history. That’s insane. Remember that feeling you got when you walked into that 2,000-year-old castle? It’s like that, but reversed now that you’re back, right? It makes you want to take your age and figure out what percent of “American” history you’ve lived. Big fish, reacquaint yourself with your small pond.

16. People are lined up in beautiful, straight, sensical queues.

Watching certain cultures “line up” to board a plane, a train, or obtain something is like being in a world full of nothing but YouTube comments — it’s just plain hard to fathom. The balloonman got trampled again? Not in America. You can’t get off of the elevator because of the crowd clamoring to get on? Not in America. And what’s more, you’ve got your bubble back. When you leave two feet between you and the person in front of you in line, everyone knows that’s not an invitation to cut in. You’re just respecting the art of personal space.
And it’s a beautiful thing.

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Featured photo courtesy of the World Bank Photo Collection.

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MY OWN SPIRITUAL JOURNEY BEGAN when I picked up a copy of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. It wasn’t the first “New Age” book I had read, but for the first time, I felt open to receiving the guidance within those pages.

I don’t know whether I was just in the right frame of mind when I came across this book or whether it was Coelho’s parable about life that spoke to me, but from then on, I felt compelled to take Coelho’s words to heart, and look inside myself.

Similarly, the following twelve books have been largely influential for spiritual seekers all over the world. While some are more timeless than others, each will likely inspire to further your own spiritual journey.

1. The Secret

Written by Melbourne television producer Rhonda Byrne, and based on a film she created in 2004 of the same title, The Secret tells of the laws of attraction: Asking for what you want, believing in what you want, and being open to receiving it.

With a historical basis in the 19th century New Thought movement; Byrne’s book has proven to be a cultural phenomenon, making the number one spot on the New York Times bestseller list.

While some consider the book little more than slick marketing and the re-packaging of many other spiritual beliefs, the book’s cultural significance cannot be denied. It remains to be seen whether Byrne’s The Secret will stand the test of time.

2. The Celestine Prophecy

In 1992, author James Redfield wrote and self-published his first book, The Celestine Prophecy. Since its initial publishing, it has gone on to become the most successful self-published novel ever.

The book is part adventure story (think The Da Vinci Code) and New Age spiritual novel. The book details one man’s journey through Peru as he uncovers nine spiritual insights.

While many have found the plot corny, the insights within captivate the reader into shifting their perspective.

3. The Alchemist

Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist tells the simple tale of a shepherd who journeys to the pyramids of Egypt to find his treasure is truly timeless. The lessons told of the discovery of your personal legend, being your one true purpose, and of understanding omens, are ones that speak to all people regardless of religion.

4. The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living

Inspired by the Dalai Lama’s joyful nature despite the political situation in Tibet, author Howard Cutler wanted to write a spiritual book focused towards a Western audience.

The Art of Happiness talks about the importance and attainability of happiness in everyday living. The purpose of life is to find happiness, which is determined by one’s mental state, despite outside circumstances.

This is a book likely to stand the test of time because it speaks to people without the use of spiritual rules or religious guidelines.

5. A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose

In spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle’s book, A New Earth, the author talks about reducing the ego as a means to feeling the abundance of life, because the ego is the source of all inner and outer conflict.

Tolle’s New Earth gained in popularity after Oprah selected it for her book club. Since then, Tolle’s book about the awakened consciousness has influenced millions.

6. The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success

In his classic book, Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Chopra discusses the importance of success in life. For Chopra, success is defined as happiness and the realization of goals, although success is not limited to wealth.

Chopra lays down 7 laws found in nature used to create spiritual success. These laws include karma (cause and effect) and dharma (purpose in life). Chopra’s popularity lies in the way he is able to take ancient Vedic teachings and present them to a Western audience.

7. The Road Less Traveled

Psychiatrist M. Scott Peck’s 1978 The Road Less Traveled book takes his ideas from his background both as a psychiatrist and as a born-again Christian.

His book details the attributes that Peck feels make a fulfilled human being. Split into three sections, his book talks about discipline (as a means for spiritual evolution), love (as a force for spiritual growth) and grace.

Though this book remains popular, some may find the psychological ideas of the book to be somewhat dated.

8. Jonathan Livingston Seagull

The tale has captured readers’ imaginations for nearly 40 years. Richard Bach’s novella reveals the story of Jonathan, a seagull whose passion for flying makes him different from other gulls.

Jonathan’s wish to perfect his flying results in being outcast from his group. At first devastating, the experience culminates in him moving to a “higher plane” where he meets other gulls like him, and his subsequent return to his flock.

Jonathan is a symbol to all those who refuse to conform for the sake of conforming, instead teaching love, forgiveness, and how to reach your true potential.

9. Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

After a bitter divorce, author Elizabeth Gilbert took a year off to travel. She visited Italy, where she ate copious amounts of good food. She went to India to learn about spirituality. And finally, ended her journey in Bali, where she was able to discover a balance between the two: love.

Gilbert’s book Eat, Pray, Love details the spiritual journey of someone in a tremendous amount of pain, to a balanced, loving human. Her story has resonated with readers everywhere, landing on the New York Times bestseller list, and eventually being made into a movie starring Julia Roberts.

10. Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson

Mitch Albom’s book, Tuesdays with Morrie based on a series of interviews with Morrie Schwartz, his former professor who was dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease, has sold countless copies and inspired a TV movie starring Hank Azaria and Jack Lemmon.

Even after his death, Morrie has continued to touch people as he relates his ideas of love (both accepting love and giving love), shunning popular celeb culture in favor of more nurturing values and non-attachment.

11. The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is yet another gift to the world from Oprah: Ruiz’s four agreements are based on ancient Toltec wisdom and are provide a relatively simple (but effective) formula for living well. The four agreements (spoiler alert!) are to 1) be impeccable with your word, 2) don’t take anything personally, 3) don’t make assumptions, and 4) always do your best.

Ruiz’s formula for a happy and successful life is surprisingly simple and easy to remember. Easy enough, at least, that Ruiz later decided to add a fifth agreement: Be skeptical but learn to listen.

12. Siddhartha

Herman Hesse’s classic Siddhartha should be required reading for the spiritually inclined: it follows the journey of a young Nepalese man named Siddhartha during the time of Buddha, and his quest to find spiritual enlightenment. Along the way, he makes several attempts at enlightenment (including under the Buddha himself), but finds spiritual fulfillment in a much simpler way than the way proposed by all of the world’s wise men. 

What books have inspired your spiritual journeys? Share your favorites below.

This article was originally published on October 27, 2008.

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