After quitting his job, photographer Kien Lam spent a large part of 2011 travelling around the globe. Along the way he made use of his excellent eye for a photograph by taking the thousands of still and moving picture, many of which went into compiling this incredible time-lapse footage.

While the film contains its fair share of recognisable landmarks, what we enjoy about it is how the process Lam has used works just as well with unspectacular locations. A crooked bridge over a fast-flowing stream looks just as fantastic as the Eiffel Tower when it’s portrayed in this way.

In addition to serving as an inspiration, the film also conveys a powerful sense of urgency. The feeling of fleeting moments slipping by, no matter where you are, really makes you want to get off the couch and make the most of the time you have available.

If we can experience even a fraction of what Lam portrays here this year, 2012 will be worthwhile.

Special thanks to our friends at Urban Adventures and pocketvillage for making us aware of this wonderful video.

It is said that you haven’t really visited Mexico until you’ve tried at least one of the delicious dishes that have made our gastronomy famous worldwide.

Without a doubt, Mexico as a country is rich in both natural beauty and living traditions that reflect centuries of history and ancestral cultural legacy. It is known as a place where people receive their guests with incomparable warmth and enormous smiles, always willing and eager to show a little more of what makes Mexico unique.

Nonetheless, Mexican cuisine is indisputably the main attraction that captivates locals and visitors alike.

In coastal Los Cabos, Mexico, tacos de pescado (fish tacos) are the local variation of the national favorite 'tacos al pastor' with grilled meat. As always in Mexico, add a little salt and lime.

What Makes Mexican Food Famous

Who has never tried enchiladas, guacamole or tacos? I would venture to guess that everyone who has visited Mexico, no matter what regions they have found themselves in, has tried at least one of these famous traditional dishes. Surely they were surprised by the richness, flavours and textures that they possess, not to mention the colourful presentation that, thanks to the special blend of ingredients, forms an attractive picture as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate.

Our cuisine is a mix of different cultures, recognised worldwide for the masterful way it mixes spices, intense seasoning and a vibrant presentation. Above all else, our cuisine is appreciated for the way many of our dishes – the majority of which usually start with a base of corn, beans, spices, chilli peppers, tomatoes, onion and garlic – still preserve their pre-hispanic origins and are truly unique.

There’s Nothing Like Mole Poblano

Among the delicacies to be sampled while visiting Mexico, we find the classic mole, a chocolate-coloured salsa (sauce) made of a mix of around 20 ingredients, including a few varieties of chilli peppers such as the pasilla and mulato, spices, seeds and chocolate.

'Mole poblano' has been named the "National Dish of Mexico" and is often served at traditional family celebrations and parties.Photo by Mi Casa Restaurant, Los Cabos Mexico

Mole is a dish with huge regional variations; some are sweeter, some are spicier, some are more reddish or yellow in colour, and they all go by different names depending on their tint and most dominant ingredients. For example, mole rojo has a red hue and mole almendrado has a distinct almond flavour. A mole dish consists of some kind of meat (generally chicken) bathed in the sauce, all accompanied by rice and tortillas.

Without a doubt, the most famous mole is mole poblano, with its characteristic taste and exquisite aroma, which has earned it the title of “national dish of Mexico.” For special celebrations such as birthdays, weddings and family reunions, mole poblano is often served as the main course.

Chile en Nogada

Another highlight from Mexican cuisine is chiles en nogada, which is prepared in a way that resembles the flag of Mexico. Its origins are traced back to the year 1821, when the nuns of the Santa María Convent in the city of Puebla made it for the first time as a tribute to Agustín de Iturbide, the first leader of Mexico after the Independence Movement.

This dish mixes the sweet with the savoury, and is known throughout the world for its beautiful presentation and the wealth of textures and flavours that it offers to even the most discerning palates.

Garnished with pomegranate seeds as one of the sweet flavours among the savoury, 'chiles en nogada' is meant to resemble the Mexican flag and has a fascinating history. Photo courtesy of flickr/A30_Tsitika

Regional Diversity and National Pride

Mexican cuisine is as varied and diverse as its geographic territory. In each of the different states that form the whole of Mexico, you’ll find distinct ingredients, flavours and cooking styles. The coastal states prepare their dishes differently than the mountainous highlands regions or the desert regions. To visit each region is to cross a new gastronomic boundary that takes us to a new adventure with every bite.

Proudly, Mexican cuisine was in 2010 listed by UNESCO for its Cultural Intangible Heritage, gaining Mexico recognition for its traditional dishes that retain the names, ingredients and cooking practices dating back to the pre-hispanic era and incorporate influences and contributions from other cultures.

For that reason and many others, you can’t travel to Mexico and miss the opportunity to try the specialties of each region, from the mole poblano and chiles en nogada of Puebla to the Tikinxic (Mayan barbecue-style fish) of Cancun, the fresh fish of Veracruz and the special Damiana liquor of Los Cabos.

Dare yourself to discover the boldest flavours that Mexico has to offer!

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EN ESPAÑOL / IN SPANISH:

Gastronomía Mexicana: Patrimonio Intangible de la Humanidad

Se dice que no has visitado México hasta que no has probado al menos uno de los deliciosos platillos que han hecho famosa a nuestra gastronomía.

Carne tampiqueña es un corte de carne acompañado de guacamole, arroz, frijoles refritos y entomatadas, es un platillo mexicano muy comùn que mezcla sabores mexicanos en todo su esplendor. Photo por Jazmin Restaurant, Los Cabos Mexico

México es sin duda un territorio rico en bellezas naturales y tradiciones que se observan incluso hasta ahora y que reflejan los siglos de historia y legado cultural de nuestros antepasados, por su gente quienes reciben a todos los visitantes con una calidez incomparable y su enorme sonrisa, siempre dispuestos a mostrar un poco más de aquello que nos hace únicos. Más sin embargo, es indudablemente la gastronomía Mexicana la principal atracción que cautiva a locales y visitantes por igual.

Lo que hace famosa la gastronomía mexicana

¿Quién no ha probado las enchiladas, el guacamole o los tacos? Puedo aventurarme a decir que quienes nos visitan no importando la región donde se encuentre, han probado al menos uno de nuestros platillos típicos y han quedado sorprendidos de la riqueza de texturas, sabores y olores que poseen, no olvidando la colorida presentación que gracias a la mezcla de los ingredientes forma un atractivo cuadro a la vista y obviamente, un deleite al paladar.

Nuestra cocina es una mezcla de diferentes culturas, apreciada mundialmente por la magistral manera de mezclar especias, sabores intensos, su colorida presentación y sobre todo, porque muchos de nuestros platillos aún conservan sus orígenes pre-hispánicos y son verdaderamente únicos. La base de la mayoría de los platos usualmente incluye maíz, frijoles, especias, chiles, tomates, cebolla y ajo.

Mole poblano ha sido denominado el "plato típico de México" es comùnmente servido en fiestas tradicionales o familiares. Photo cortesía de flickr/avlxyz

No hay nada como el mole poblano

Entre las delicias que podemos probar al visitar México, encontraremos el mole, una salsa de color chocolate que es mezcla de alrededor de 20 ingredientes, entre los que podemos encontrar diferentes chiles como el chile pasilla y el chile mulato, especias, semillas y chocolate. Hay una variedad muy grande de Moles, algunos de sabores dulces, otros de sabor picante, algunos de colores rojos o amarillos y todos reciben un nombre diferente dependiendo de su color o el ingrediente que más predomine en la receta (mole rojo, mole almendrado, etc.). El platillo consiste en la salsa bañando algún tipo de carne que generalmente es pollo y acompañado de arroz y tortillas.

El mole más famoso sin lugar a dudas, es el conocido como mole poblano de un sabor tan característico y exquisito olor, que ha sido llamado el “Platillo Nacional de México.” Es muy común que en las celebraciones como cumpleaños, bodas y reuniones familiares se sirva el mole poblano como platillo principal.

Chile en Nogada

Otro de los platos que ha hecho famosa la gastronomía mexicana es el chile en nogada de colorido decorado que semeja la bandera de México y tiene sus orígenes en 1821, hecho por primera vez en Puebla por las monjas del Convento de Santa María en homenaje a Agustín de Iturbide, la primera persona que gobernó México después del Movimiento de la Independencia.

Chiles en nogada es un colorido platillo mexicano que hace honor a la bandera mexicana en los colores de su presentación. Su receta data de 1821. Photo por Mi Casa Restaurant, Los Cabos, Mexico

Este platillo mezcla los sabores dulce y salado y es conocido alrededor del mundo por su hermosa presentación y la riqueza de texturas y sabores que ofrece y deleita a los paladares más exigentes.

Diversidad regional y orgullo nacional

Y así como diverso es nuestro territorio Mexicano es nuestra cocina, que varía de ingredientes, sabores y formas de preparación en cada uno de los diferentes estados que forman el país. Las costas preparan sus platillos de diferente manera que las zonas montañosas o las desérticas. Al visitar cada territorio, cruzamos una frontera gastronómica que nos lleva a una aventura nueva con cada bocado.

Orgullosamente, la gastronomía mexicana recibió en el 2010 el reconocimiento de Patrimonio Intangible de la Humanidad reconociéndose así que aún sus platos mantengan nombres, ingredientes y formas de preparación que datan de la época pre-hispánica y que hayan incorporado con el paso del tiempo aportaciones de otras culturas.

Por esto y más, si viaja por el territorio mexicano, no puede dejar pasar la oportunidad de probar las delicias tradicionales de cada región, desde el Tikinxic (pescado al estilo barbacoa Maya) de Cancun, el mole poblano y los chiles en nogada de Puebla, el pescado a la veracruzana o tomar un poco de licor de Damiana de Los Cabos.

¡Atrévete a descubrir los sabores que México tiene para ofrecerte!

Do you shop when you travel? Are souvenirs irresistible? It's important to understand the perils of irresponsible shopping and learn how to shop the fair way - or else. Photo courtesy of Flickr/|vvaldzen|

The great part about buying handmade items like these is that they were all purchased directly from the artists who made them – an exceedingly rare interaction in an increasingly mass-produced world. Buying the items felt good to me, but best is that I know these local artists appreciated each sale as well.

Whether our purchases make a positive impact when we travel is unfortunately not always so clear. Yet in developing countries, where Western currency goes that much further, it’s a thought worth investigating. How can we be sure that our purchasing choices will ensure the well-being of locals and the environment? Are we supporting an industry that helps sustain the local economy? Do our penchants support a trade that values the labour, dignity and rights of all those it employs?

You could hardly do better than local handicrafts made from indigenous bamboo grown in the forests around Luang Prabang, Laos. Photo courtesy of Stanislas Fradelizi/Teamworkz

When it comes to buying the “fairest” souvenirs, being well informed can make a big difference. Responsible shopping means understanding what’s at stake with each penny traded with the goal to preserve the world’s heritage and resources.

Here then are a few points to consider to help ensure that our tourist dollars are well spent. I’d really encourage you to add some of your own.

Look Around for Local Crafts

From the hand-woven traditional textiles of Laos to the fine filigree jewellery available in Portugal or the eclectic wire sculptures sold along South Africa’s Garden Route, nothing compares in value to beautifully produced local handicrafts made by some of the world’s finest artists. After all, craft items make far better gifts than boring old t-shirts, and purchasing locally produced goods constitutes a viable source of income for local creative types the world over.

When you buy goods and handcrafts directly from the local producers, your money goes straight to the community and will help to preserve those traditional arts. Keep your eyes out at the smaller markets in rural areas for some of the best deals, or buy through specialty Fair Trade stores such as Global Exchange.

Get Goods Made from Sustainable Sources

We all know that poaching is wrong. Tourists who buy endangered animal furs have as much blood on their hands as the poachers themselves. Fortunately, butterflies do not look nice to me in a box. I’d never consider buying ivory, that barbaric and illegal trade that causes incredible agony and death to the most magnificent of creatures. I boycott buying furniture made from rare and endangered woods and always aim to buy products made from the finest renewable sources.

Enough said? Are you sure? Take a stroll down almost any tourist beach and you will likely see vendors selling coral or seashells. But, except in places where some invasive coral is harvested to preserve the native ecosystem, how many people know that the market for harvested coral is destroying the world’s ocean reefs and causing irreparable damage to underwater ecosystems? The colourful shells now sold as earrings and necklaces once contained living animals – creatures that are now dead because someone wanted pretty adornments. Please don’t encourage this trade.

Keep an eye out for homemade items made from sustainable resources, like the natural dyes used by traditional weavers in Peru's Sacred Valley. Photo by Laurel Angrist

Buy with a Conscience – Patronise Stores that Give Back

Another important way to ensure we spend our money responsibly is to purchase items that help to support the communities we visit. In the peaceful Xieng Khoang province of northeast Laos, for example, lies the cultural village of Ban Napia. Despite the countless atrocities they suffered as residents of the most heavily bombed region in the Indochina War, the villagers here are resilient and resourceful: aluminium scrap metal from leftover bombs is converted into delicate spoons and bracelets that are sold to tourists visiting the village-owned souvenir shop.

Around the world, of course, there are many other small stores that provide self-sustainable income to locals, whether through skills training or other means, and countless shops that contribute to worthy causes. Get online and ask around to find the best local charity shops and patronise businesses donating a percentage of profits to local community projects, environmental conservation or humanitarian assistance programs.

The successful thrift shops and bookstore run by Housing Works support programs providing housing, healthcare and job training to more than 20,000 low-income New York City residents living with HIV and AIDS. Photo courtesy of housingworks.org

Consider an Item’s Trade Roots – and Think Outside the Factory-Made Box

Many infamous examples exist of products made by exploited workers, produced under dismal conditions for shockingly minuscule wages. The most high-profile cases that come to my mind are the Christmas ornaments that were made by child workers and sold at Walmart, the Nike shoe company’s questionable labour practices and the horrific abuse and involvement of the Koidu diamond mines in fuelling Sierra Leone’s bloody, decade-long civil war.

Unfortunately, such stories only come to light once a corporation’s underhanded practices become too egregious to ignore. Let’s face it: mass production has had a long history of labour violations, many of which we choose to ignore because we want our cheap dinner plates, children’s toys, cell phones and you name it.

In South Africa, the Consolidated Diamond Mine, owned by De Beers, is said to have the largest private earthmoving fleet in the world. Outmoded vehicles and machines are dumped in this eerie graveyard without a second thought about the environment. Photo courtesy of Flickr/sosij

Factory-made souvenir items such as magnets, key chains or t-shirts are often manufactured outside of the destinations they represent, and typically have little to no real connection to the places they are supposed to portray. I don’t know the industrial origins of the most common and obvious mass-market souvenir items, but knowing what we know already, how much do we really want them? How great could they really be?

Instead, why not hunt for more meaningful mementos? Vacations are the perfect time to get just a little bit more creative: think of items that are not merely souvenirs but are actually used in local households for decoration or day-to-day living. Need some ideas? Go ask a local. They’re bound to come up with some imaginative suggestions you may never have thought of on your own.