Curacao is a small Caribbean Island that was colonized by the Dutch. The Dutch also brought African slaves to the island, but the natives of the Island are an indigenous group of people called the Arawak. Their ancestors had migrated to the island from the mainland of South America, likely hundreds of years before Europeans arrived. They were believed to have migrated from the Amazon Basin.
Mauritius is an African island in the Indian Ocean known for it’s beaches, reefs, and lagoons. It is also known for its “7 Colored Earths” in the village of Chamarel. These are sand dunes that are colored: Red, Brown, Violet, Green, Blue, Purple, and Yellow. These dunes fascinate Geologist as they seem to be immune to erosion, despite torrential rains.
Sierra Leone is one of the smallest countries in Africa. It is also known as one of the most religiously tolerant countries in the world. Most people in Sierra Leone are Muslim, but there are Christians and people of indigenous religions who live peacefully among each other.
Uganda is one of the youngest countries in the world… literally. About 50% of Ugandan’s are under 14 years old, and less than 3% are over 65 years old. In just 12 years the population grew by nearly 11 million people.
Kiribati is known as the drowning Island. Most of the Islands are only 1-2 meters above seas level. Climate change is a very real natural disaster for the people of this island. Already two islands have been swallowed up. (🙄 And some people still deny the reality of climate change.)
Scotland is the birth place of James VI of Scotland (James I of England). When Elizabeth I (Tudor) died without issue, the English crown passed to her 2nd cousin, James King of Scotland. James was the son of the Scots Queen, Mary Stuart, whom Elizabeth Tudor executed for treason. It was through James that Scotland and England (along with Wales) were united into Great Britain [made official in 1707]. King James was also “THE” King James who transcribed the bible into English for the Church of England. The King James Version is widely used by Protestants around the world to this day. Pictured is Edinburgh Castle, where King James was born.
Turkmenistan is home to many Turkmen. Turkmen are one of the original Turkic tribes, that migrated from Mongolia to Central Asia. Their rich culture and history has been preserved, and their nomadic heritage has survived into the 20th Century. Ruins of ancient Silk Road cities still dot the landscape.
Iran was the home of the Three Wise Men. These wise men were not kings or Christian. They were Zoroastrian magi priests from Iran (which was previously known as Persia). Marco Polo wrote that he visited the tomb of the three magi in Tehran in around 1270 ACE.
Mexico is where archaeologist found evidence of the earliest corn crops. It was domesticated there 9,000 years ago. Since 3600 BCE popcorn was a thing!
