The Holbrook Explorer
Cultural
Ta Moko: The Mark of the Māori
The Māori people of New Zealand have a distinct way of identifying themselves with outsiders and among each other: with tattoos. Tattooing, or ta moko, has been a large part of Māori culture for centuries. While its exact origins are unknown, the art of ta moko came from Eastern Polynesian culture...
G'Day, Mate: Deciphering Australian Slang
Photo by Tourism Queensland Many countries around the world may speak the same language, but because of large geographical distances and varying cultural histories, sometimes it can be hard to understand someone who is technically speaking the same language as you. Australia, though similar to the...
Exploring Cuba with Their Ears
When students at Whittier College selected Music 74: The Music of Cuba, they enrolled in much more than your average music class. Through this course, students had the chance to not only study under a Grammy Award-winning flautist, but to experience the music of Cuba beyond the classroom setting,...
Visiting the Mysterious Maya Ruins of Copán
I set my alarm for six o’clock in the morning so that I would wake up early enough to hear and see the sights of the town from the hotel’s balcony with coffee in hand. I knew that many of the locals would not be walking the cobblestones for a while, but I could smell the fresh bread and coffee,...
Interview with the author of Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time
Listen to an interview here with Mark Adams, the author of Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time. He discusses his book that retraces Hiram Bingham's journey to Machu Picchu and the allegations and controversy that followed his discovery.
A History of Machu Picchu and the Inca
Here is a video about the history of Machu Picchu and the Inca: Machu Pichu and the Inca