From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:01 PM

Philanthropist Charles Annenberg Weingarten and the explore team set out for India, a land ascribed with deep spiritual and philosophical roots — a land of magic. Here, under the inspirational guidance of Swamiji Muni Baba and his beloved Ganges River, they take an unforgettable journey to disco...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 5:01 PM

Set amidst towering walls of rose-colored stone, the lost city of Petra certainly deserves its title as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Petra represents thousands of years of history, dating all the way back to the Neolithic era. The name of the city means 'cleft in the rock'...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:53 PM

Following the expedition to India, the explore team made a short trip to the tropical island of Bali. The vast majority (93%) of the island’s three million residents practice Hinduism, but other elements are included such as ancestor worship, animism, and magic — all of which are deeply interwov...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:53 PM

Nothing brings back the spirit of youth and joy like music. Spend an afternoon with Charles Annenberg Weingarten and the elderly Alzheimer’s patients at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, where all it takes is a cherished song to energize the room and bring the crowd to its feet.

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:53 PM

Tanzania is home to some of Africa’s most striking geographic features, including the famous Mount Kilimanjaro and Lake Tanganyika, the world's second deepest lake. But it is the also the site of the Serengeti — which means "endless plains" in Maasai language — a vast expanse of land that h...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:53 PM

In India, dance is intended to be a sincere representation of the beauty of life and can even provide a glimpse of the divine. The distinctive hand and finger movements are called mudras, which is Sanskrit for 'spiritual gesture' and directly linked to Buddhism. Another interpretation ...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:52 PM

The west coast of Africa was formerly called the Gold Coast for its rich mineral resources. But in the 1700’s, the slave trade made human life the most profitable commodity. Now more than 25 structures — castles, fortresses, and trading posts — dot the coast as a reminder of the terrible crimes ...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:52 PM

The Potala Palace, a 13-story complex on Lhasa’s Red Hill, was originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century for the princess he was to marry. The palace contains over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines, and some 200,000 statues; it has been both the home and burial site of numerous Dalai ...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:37 PM

At the Kiran Centre in Varanasi, India, children do not have disabilities, but different abilities. By focusing on hope and growth, and working closely with parents, the Centre empowers differently-abled children to lead healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives.

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:37 PM

Lacking a conventional power grid, Tibetan herders and farmers use the sun’s energy to power their homes. A $500 donation through the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) can buy a complete solar home system for one family: a 50-watt solar module, battery, controller, switch, wiring, and bulbs. The ...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:37 PM

Simple to make and easy to carry, the bamboo flute has been a favored instrument in China for centuries. Many elderly people, particularly those living in the rural countryside, will often take out their flute during lunchtime and play it by a nearby brook or stream.

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:36 PM

On the shores of Canada’s Arctic Bay, two teenage Inuit girls sing a traditional melody. Their friend keeps the beat with a qilaut, a drum made of stretched caribou skin that was originally used to summon animist gods during ritual services. The qilaut is also called a "wind drum."

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:36 PM

The explore team visits the tomb of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses — one of the most important archaeological findings of the 20th century. A ceramic army of 8,099 life-sized, intricately carved statues modeled after Emperor Qin’s infantry men, officers, and archers stand at attention, ready...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:35 PM

The Bengal tiger, a fierce predator and one of the strongest mammals on the planet, is being slowly defeated by an ever-shrinking habitat and poachers that sell its body parts to folk medicine practitioners in China and Singapore. Only a few thousand tigers remain, undisturbed, in the wild.

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:35 PM

Would you risk your life to ski the perfect powder? In 2008, there were a record number of deaths from avalanches in North America, most of which were caused by the victim or someone in their party. The explore team heads into the stunning backcountry ski areas of the Grand Teton mountains to pa...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:35 PM

For the wild mountain gorillas of Rwanda, the forest is a gigantic salad bowl. A gorilla can — and will — eat up to 60-70 different species of plants that it finds growing wild in the jungle, though its favorite is without doubt the gently shoots of young bamboo plants. Follow these peaceful, ve...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:07 PM

Dr. Suniti Solomon of the Y.R.G. Centre for AIDS Research and Education tells of the first cases of HIV she detected in 1986, from a test of 100 sex workers. Today, it is estimated that more than 5 million people in India are infected with HIV. Spreading awareness and educational outreach are es...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:07 PM

When the explore team visited New Orleans, more than a year had passed since Hurricane Katrina. Yet many of the low-lying areas of the city had still not recovered, and thousands of people were still waiting for signs of leadership and hope. "New Orleans is a tale of two cities," observed journa...

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:07 PM

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that is practiced worldwide to reduce stress, enhance balance, and increase focus. Here, tai chi master Xiaozhon He harnesses the flow of energy and seamlessly translates it into graceful movements.

From: explore on Mon, Dec 07 2009 4:07 PM

Hawaii’s North Shore is one of the planet's precious pearls. Join Charles Annenberg Weingarten as he visits the area covered by the North Shore Community Land Trust, an organization dedicated to preserving Hawaii's majestic mountains, pristine coastline, and ocean habitats.