Via Verde Volume 4 Issue 2

APRIL 2024 Volume 4, Issue 2

Via Verde Student Travel Magazine

IN THIS ISSUE Hawaii Haven

pg. 11

Crossing cultures

pg. 16

Tourism is killing culture

pg. 23

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PUBLICATION POLICY Operating under California Education Code 48907, Via Verde, a student travel magazine published by students at Palo Alto High School, is a designated limited open forum for student expression and discussion of issues of concern to its readership.

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VIA VERDE Palo Alto High School’s Travel Magazine

MISSION STATEMENT Via Verde aims to be a travel magazine that uses the power of the student press and desktop publishing to pursue the values of the Palo Alto Unified School District, Palo Alto High School and scholastic journalism. More specifically, the mission of the Via Verde is to provide: The Paly community with information on travel issues from student perspectives; a forum for students to submit and publish their experiences related to travel; and an independent journalistic magazine that models integrity and creativity seeking to educate its readers on local and international cultures; The larger scholastic journalism community with a role model publication that embodies the best of scholastic journalism and for future student-created magazines; and, The magazine’s student staff with journalistic and leadership opportunities that increase their ability and desire to participate meaningfully in our society and global community; and skills to become leaders within future endeavors.

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Welcome aboard Via Verde, Palo Alto High School’s student travel magazine!

We are ecstatic to have you join us for our journey exploring Paly’s student travels.

Following our first issue earlier this fall, Via Verde’s 2nd issue in our 4th Volume, serves as a space where students are encouraged to broaden their perspectives on all aspects of traveling.

This issue, we delve into staff writer Chiara Martin’s feature on exchange students at Paly to staff writer Marcus Ling’s harrowing Japan’s earthquake story in our Explore section.

In our Reflect section, staff writer Mihika Sridhar shares her opinion on the negative effects of tourism on local culture. Meanwhile, staff writer Anika Nair chronicles a local guide to San Francisco for anyone to enjoy.

Via Verde can’t wait to share this new journey with you, traversing the globe, together.

APRIL 2024 VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lara Su Dumanli PHOTO AND ART DIRECTOR Vivian Tang STAFF WRITERS Anika Nair Vivian Lin Marcus Ling William Xue Cailey Quita Chiara Martin Mihika Sridhar Doreen Hou Sarina Grewal SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Austin Eng ADVISER Paul Kandell

CONNECT @viaverde.mag issuu.com/viaverdemag ON THE COVER Captured by Palo Alto High School senior Ellery Armes, two people stand on top of a rocky landscape.

Bon voyage!

Lara Su Dumanli

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IN THIS ISSUE

Lofoten, Norway

Photo by Alma Bendavid

INSIDE 6 Lift-off

EXPLORE 8 Shanghai 10 Hawaii 12 Ski 14 Tivoli 16 Exchange students

REFLECT 18 Japan 20 Yosemite 22 Tourism 24 San Francisco

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VERBATIM

BEST TRAVEL PLAYLIST

BEST SEAT ON THE AIRPLANE?

Compiled by LARA SU DUMANLI

Dawns

3:34

•••

The Roads

4:22

•••

Zach Bryan, Maggie Roggers

Jonah Kagen

Mt. Joy Mt. Joy

August Flipturn

Motel 6

River Whyless

Real Love Baby Father John Misty

Harvest Moon Neil Young

4:46

“I have long legs, so I really appreciate the fact that you can stretch the leg out a little bit if you need to get up and walk around.

As well, something that works for me is when you’re getting off the plane, and the plane has landed, you can stand up without hitting your head as much because there’s usually a little more head clearance,” — BROOKE HUDACEK, senior

•••

4:33

•••

4:11

•••

“For me, the best seat is the middle seat. Sitting in the middle seat just makes me feel a lot more safe. And on things like planes where there’s so much danger involved, it kind of helps me to feel comfortable when there’s things surrounding me on all sides. It just makes me feel more grounded and safe in the plane,”

— DIVYA GHANDI, junior

3:23

4:44

•••

•••

“In my opinion, the windows is the best seat because you get to see everything out of the window. But also you can see everything out the windowwhen you’re landing and when you take off. Out of all the options, window is definitely the best,”

— BRIAN J MILLER JR, freshman

Compiled by FAIZAN KASHMIRI

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Shanghai Reunion Visiting family after lockdown

Text and photos by VIVIAN LIN

T

HE SUN ROSE IN THE smog-filled sky, a drop of blood among the apocalyptic landscape. It had been five years since I had last visited my mom’s side of the family in Shanghai, a year before the pandemic had struck and turned the city into an empty ghost town.

On the first day, we walked from our hotel to my grandparents’ apartment. The old brick building and stray cats roaming lazily near the front gate suddenly seemed fresh in my memory. As I entered my grandparents’ home, I was greeted with the smell of dumplings and the faint scent of old wooden furniture. My grandparents and my family talked over the meal, bringing up old memories and telling stories of what had happened while we were in the States.

“The streets of the city were completely empty,” my grandma said. “When we were finally able to get out of our apartment after four months, it felt so relieving to see the city come to life again.”

Over the next week, I spent the majority of the day at my grandparents’ house and the evenings wandering the gigantic malls and bustling streets lined with vendors selling boba and soup dumplings.

Shanghai’s shopping areas featured fancy clothing boutiques and huge lifestyle stores. Unlike shopping in America, we could bargain the price of items and were often able to get a good deal.

After a week in Shanghai, we took the train to the neighboring city of Suzhou, where my grandparents on my dad’s side of the family lived. Suzhou had a much quieter atmosphere than Shanghai, with smaller houses situated by canals. White houses topped with black tile roofs lined canals with stone bridges going across.

Walking along these canals early one morning, my dad pointed to a house that his grandparents had lived in. Suzhou is especially known for its classical Chinese gardens which feature bonsais, koi ponds, and irregular rock formations.

As the two weeks came to an end, I was left with a bittersweet feeling. I knew I would have to leave, but I knew that I would come back soon. v

CANALS (top right): Perhaps the most distinctive feature of Suzhou is its canals and stone bridges.

ILLUMINATING THE NIGHT (far left): Although Suzhou is a much smaller city than Shanghai, it also features many towering skyscrapers that are fully decked out with billboards. Pictured on the far left is the Suzhou Center, the largest shopping mall in Suzhou.

MY GRANDMOTHER (bottom center): My grandma and I pose for a photo.

Shanghai City God Temple (top center): The City God Temple is a Taoist temple where people can pay respects to the three city gods of the town.

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HAWAIIAN

haven

A week in Oahu’s wonderland

T

Text and photos by WILLIAM XUE

HE SUN DIPPED BELOW THE HORIZON, casting a golden glow over Hawaii’s rolling hills. In the middle of Oahu’s Sunset Beach, I watched as the day turned into night. Waves crashed against the coastline, echoing through the air. These moments fulfilled my imagination of a relaxing getaway and made sure my remaining time on the island was going to be unforgettable.

I expected this trip to be a typical vacation, filled with photo after photo with my family. However, as soon as I felt the warm air and saw the diverse wildlife, I found the reason I was here: to explore Oahu’s stunning scenery and land.

The serenity of the island was unveiled to me as we drove around Oahu.

Emerald-green mountains reached for the clouds. Valleys extended farther out than the eye could see and breathtaking cliffs met the beauty of the Pacific Ocean’s blues. As we ascended the wooded mountains, driving through tunnels was always fun, with the frequent on-and-off rain. Between this and the roosters on the road, there was never a moment when my eyes were not looking out the window.

Highlights from my week-long vacation included visiting the beautiful Byodo-In Temple, a replica of a Japanese temple. At the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains, the temple is provided with a gorgeous backdrop of rich shades of green. Nearby, the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, translating to “peaceful refuge,” lived up to its name. 400 acres of greenery surrounded me with the only sounds being nearby birds chirping. This garden is home to various birds, insects, and animals, and holds a diverse collection of plants from countries worldwide. Off the shore of the white sand beaches of Hanauma Bay are vibrant coral reefs in crystal clear waters, home to species of fish unseen elsewhere.

Watching the sunrise from Diamond Head, a landmark known for its hiking trails, stunning coastal views, and rich history was my favorite part of the trip. Waking up before daylight was way too early for me, but I pushed through, hoping to catch the sunrise. The moderate hike up included traversing long and dark tunnels, steep stairs, and slippery rocks.

The view from the top made the seemingly never-ending staircase worth climbing. Walking around the rim of Diamond Head, the glowing sun rising above the Pacific Ocean on one side coupled with green hillsides around Honolulu’s city skyline on the other created a picturesque moment that matched my imagination of what Hawaii would be.

Oahu’s emphasis on the preservation of wildlife and nature is a rare sight. As I bid farewell, wave sounds, lush landscapes, and spectacular sunsets are what made my experience so enjoyable. Although every place in the world has its specialties, Oahu’s land makes it truly extraordinary. v

EXPLORING (ABOVE): I reflected and learned about the history at Pearl Harbor with my family.

We learned about an important part of the history of World War II by walking through the event timeline museum and visiting the sinking place of vessels.

BYODO-IN TEMPLE (LEFT): After driving through a section of mountains, my family and I reached the Byodo-In Temple. This Japanese replica created a beautiful contrast against the background greenery and water feature in front.

ISLAND CATS (BELOW): Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay was fun seeing the wildlife that lived below the water. While leaving, seeing the sleeping cats that overlooked the ocean added to the experience.

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T

he car windows fog up as we gain elevation. I draw a star in the condensation, and as I peer through the droplets of moisture, the mountains of the Sierra Nevada look right back at me.

Every winter, crowds of families from the Bay Area pack up their puffer jackets and snow pants and head to Lake Tahoe, which is home to a variety of ski resorts. My family is no exception, and for the last 10 years, I’ve been heading up to Palisades Tahoe, formerly known as Squaw Valley, to take advantage of the fresh January snow. Even as a veteran, the holiday rush can sometimes be overwhelming, and first-timers can get terrified.

This winter break, that rush was on full display, as thousands of newcomers descended on Palisades to spend their time off. New skiers were around every corner of the resort, from the shops to the hardest runs, excited to try everything they’d read or watched videos about online. Unfortunately, many don’t know the most important thing about coming to the slopes: the right mindset to keep the experience enjoyable, and not let stress take over the whole trip. In my time as a frequent visitor, I’ve found that the resort experience can be greatly improved by keeping a few key things in mind.

1.

Know Your Skills

Many new skiers can feel pressure to go on harder runs that they’re not equipped for, especially if they’re visiting with more experienced friends.

There’s a reason ski resorts have runs for multiple skill levels, though — if a fledgling skier loses control on a hard run, it might not only harm them but the people around them. There’s no shame in sticking to the bunny runs while you get your bearings on the snow.

2.

Rise Early and End Late

Of course, it’s important to actually ski on your ski trips. The best way to beat the lines is to get to the resort early, and stay as long as you can.

Lift lines can get ridiculously long, especially later in the day when everyone else finally gets out of bed. Getting on the slopes early means less lines and better skiing. A lot of people leave right after lunch as well, so if fresh corduroy isn’t a priority, afternoon skiing is fun and comes with a lot less waiting. Passes are expensive, and driving up is a pain — might as well ski as much as you can.

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3.

Don’t Dodge the Lodge

Being on the snow isn’t the only thing that ski trips can offer. My favorite place on the mountain isn’t the slopes — it’s at the ski-in, ski-out coffee bar attached to the main ski lodge. Ski lodges always offer stellar views and (mostly) have some great food, and when skiing gets tiring, sometimes dropping in for a bite is the way to go.

4.

Enjoy Yourself

The most important part of a ski trip is the experience.

Skiing varies a lot depending on the type of person in the boots: Some prefer the lodge more, and some prefer the snow. Most ski resorts have a ton of chairlift-free options for their visitors to indulge in. Winter sports aren’t just limited to skiing and snowboarding; Ice skating and snow tubing are some of my favorite activities, and many resorts offer them at the base. Go exploring: Ski towns are full of hidden gems, from restaurants to bakeries to antique shops, and you never know what you’ll find in a new place. The ideal ski trip varies from person to person, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy. v

Text and photos by Sarina Grewal

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Traversing Tivoli

A DAY AT COPENHAGEN’S WINTER WONDERLAND

I

nside Copenhagen’s enchanting history lies Tivoli Gardens, home to thrilling adventures and culinary delights since its establishment almost two centuries ago. As the world’s oldest functioning amusement park, since 1843, the park has created a distinctive contrast against the frigid weather and background of uniform buildings and canals of its host city.

Upon entering, the abundance of greenery gives a refreshing breath of air. What’s noteworthy about Tivoli is the Christmas market, offering guests gifts and souvenirs only found there. It’s transformed into a winter wonderland for the winter season only, serving up gløgg, a traditional Danish mulled wine and spirits, and spiced apple cider, as well as foods including roasted ham, potatoes, and red cabbage.

Open all year round, Tivoli’s Villa Vendetta is a walk-through attraction that’s unusual for the season. Walking in a vertical line formation, protected by my mom in front of me and my dad behind, I braved the terrifying haunted house. I gripped my mom’s shoulders and refused to look up. In between sobs, all I can remember were loud noises, and gentle arm touches from the actors.

To top it all off, when I finally decided to open my eyes at the very end, our group had to endure a (pretend) knife-wielding chase to

finally escape.

Another ride that was brand-new for me was TikTak. The theming makes riders feel entirely immersed inside a giant compass surrounded by gears, levers, and a plethora of other mechanics. While feeling the 4G forces, and rotating both horizontally and vertically at high speeds, you’re sure to experience being thrown around through time.

Lastly, Tivoli’s highest ride, The Star Flyer, stands at a whopping 262 feet. However, it surprisingly isn’t a drop ride, but simply a traditional swing carousel ride.

Before getting on, staff instructs all riders to empty all pockets and leave their belongings in the provided cubbies, since it could be fatal for others if something were to fall from that high. At 262 feet in the air, guests are ensured the best views of Copenhagen at any time of the day.

After a day of excitement, we winded down with warm cider and gløgg, wrapped up by the fireplace — a perfect ending to a cold day full of excitement. Tivoli remains a must-try destination because of its modern thrills and historic charm and is recommended to anyone who wants a break from the typical parks in California. v

Text and photos by CAILY LILLY QUITA SCENIC VIEWS: Another view I was looking at from the sidelines. The tree on the left is the same tree I’m standing in front of. Next to it stands a traditional Chinese temple in front of The Demon, Tivoli’s largest roller coaster.

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Crossing Cultures NAVIGATING STUDENT LIFE ABROAD

M

ILES AWAY from her hometown outside of Stockholm, Sweden, senior Isabelle Linder steps into the shoes of a student in Palo Alto. 36 years ago, Linder’s mother was also an exchange student at Paly. She kept in contact with her host family, whom Isabelle is now spending a year with.

“Growing up you see so much about American high school life in movies and on social media, so I think a lot of European kids dream of experiencing that,” Linder said. “Since I already knew a family, it felt like a great opportunity.”

For others, the exchange wasn’t a choice. Sophomore Barbara Larrain is from Santiago, Chile, and is here in Palo Alto for six months while her dad studies at Stanford.

“He just took the whole family with him,” Larrain said. “I was sad because I was going to leave my friends, but I was also really happy because American high school is so fun.”

Paly is quite different from Larrain’s small all girls school in Santiago, where she had only one class and little choice over the topics taught.

“It’s really fun here because you’re always moving around and you can meet a lot of people,” Larrain said. “Also the electives, there are so many interesting options.”

However, there are both positives and negatives about a different school system.

Although there

are more opportunities at Paly, Linder areas of it,” Linder said. “Seeing so many misses some aspects of her education back cultures here in Palo Alto is really great.” in Sweden.

Overall, all three students agree that “Back home, you get to take more re- studying abroad is an eye-opening experisponsibility for your own studies, which I ence to take part in. Although he was in really like,” Linder said.

Amsterdam for two years, Teetzel would Exchange students also can find it have liked to spend even more time there harder to get around independently while and is eager to go back. in Palo Alto. Soph“In one year omore Ronan “Seeing so many cultures everything goes Teetzel spent two by so fast,” Teetyears abroad in here in Palo Alto is really zel said. “It was so Amsterdam, where great.” nice seeing other he appreciated the places and trav— ISABELLE LINDER, senior plentiful public eling all over Eutransportation the city is famous for. rope.”

“In Amsterdam there’s trains, trams, Larrain is only here for a semester bebuses,” Teetzel said. “In Palo Alto, you can’t fore she has to return to school in Chile. really get anywhere.”

However, she wishes she could stay for the In the beginning of her stay, Linder whole year and would definitely recomalso struggled with homesickness. mend studying abroad.

“There’s definitely things I miss that “I would say if you’re thinking about I never would have thought I’d miss, like it, definitely do it, and always be open to stuff that sometimes annoys you when new opportunities,” Larrain said. you’re back home,” Linder said. “When you Despite challenges and missing home, don’t have it, you realize that you actually Linder also agrees that the opportunity is kind of enjoy it.” worth it.

Nonetheless, there are also things “I think you grow a lot as a person,” Linder loves about Palo Alto, including ex- Linder said. “You get to appreciate other panding her cultural horizons. cultures, but also your own culture a lot “Sweden is obviously not a very di- more.” v verse country in general, and I’m Text by Chiara Martin also from one of the less diverse

ON THE ROAD On her school trip, sophomore Barbara Larrain traveled with her class to the north of Chile, visiting the small town of San Pedro de Atacama, settled by the Andes Mountains. However, some places in Chile can be dangerous, which is why Larrain appreciates Palo Alto for its safety.

“I’d say that Palo Alto is very safe, I feel very safe here,” Larrain said. “I can just leave my house and walk. In Chile, there is a lot of delinquency.”

Lofoten, Norway

Photo by Alma Bendavid

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Contact us at viaverdemagazine1@gmail.com

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GOLDFISH MUSEUM: Goldfishes are a culture cornerstone of Japanese culture and symbolize prosperity. The photo shows a goldfish display at the Art Aquarium Museum in Ginza, Tokyo. Photo by Marcus Ling.

Japan rocked my world Inside Ishikawa prefecture’s 7.6 magnitude earthquake

Text and photos by MARCUS LING

A

FTER

TWO-AND-A-HALF

YEARS

OF

COVID-19 travel restrictions leaving the tourist-tempting temples and malls to the locals, I spent my winter vacation in Ginza, Tokyo. Being at the pinnacle of high society and extravagant indulgence, I was surrounded by classy shops, restaurants, and bars. Upon returning to my hotel from a long New Year’s Day of meandering through seas of pushy tourists and perusing endless aisles of traditional crafts, stationery, and electronics, the only thought on my mind was about trying to fit all my newly acquired souvenirs in the suitcase.

Suddenly, the hotel room started shaking. Glass jars on the table started quivering. I reached for the sink. I tried staying on my feet. Confusion turned into anxiety, and anxiety turned into nausea. What I thought was a headache from spoiled sushi was actually a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that hit the Noto Peninsula west of Tokyo, according to AP News.

Even with the seismic isolation technologies that stabilize the foundations of modern Japanese buildings, the tremor still shook the room, with intensity increasing by the second.

The 500 kilometers between the quake’s epicenter and my

hotel and my hotel felt like mere meters.

Holding onto the sink, I forgot about the serene shrines where the spontaneous hustle and bustle of Tokyo vanishes, the cafes flush with friendly felines snuggling comfortably under tables and chairs, and the department stores where the escalators endlessly go up and up.

I froze in place like I was stuck in the middle of the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing Street, the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing. This time, my lifeline was a shabby porcelain sink tucked away in my hotel room instead of my mother’s arm.

Rational thinking did not save me from questions of mortality. Rather, I breathed a sigh of relief when the tiny figurine on the desk stopped trembling. The ground stopped twisting and turning after two minutes. Sometimes, it takes an earthquake to appreciate the better parts of a vacation.

You don’t realize how precious the feeling of safety is until you and your worldview are shaken by the seventh strongest earthquake of the 21st century. Yet, the rest of the world moved on, and another day dawned in the land of the rising sun. v

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Drinking Water: My little brother feels extremely thirsty and tired after more than four hours of hiking on the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail. He pretends to drink the water from the waterfalls after he ran out of all the water he brought. Behind him is the Yosemite Falls, from afar, we can see the splashing water clashing onto the accumulation of snow.

Winter in

Text by DOREEN HOU

Yosemite

A

FTER A TORTUOUS FOUR and a half miles of hiking, we finally reached the top of the Yosemite Fall. After finessing a few turns, the view unveiled before us. The silverly-white snow water surging down at the crest and spread into water fumes at the bottom. The water fumes spray down onto the snowpack at the bottom.

According to the National Park Service, Yosemite National Park attracts nearly 3.7 million visitors annually. While most people come around during the summer month, I arrived in February with hundreds of photographers packing their biggest and most expensive camera gear to capture the park’s spectacular waterfalls.

I’ve always wanted to see the Firefall.

Firefall is a unique spectacle that only appears in Yosemite in a particular time range.

I heard from the shuttle driver when going back to get ready for the sight viewing—to be able to see the Firefall, you need the sky to be clear; it cannot be too cold for the water to freeze; it also needs enough rain for the duration of the last few months for water to flow. Even with slight exaggeration, I still get a sense of how high the weather requirement is for the Firefall to appear.

During this time of the year, many areas in the park are covered by snow. But hiking and touring around the valley floor and Mariposa Grove area was snow-free.

Winter months are less populated compared to the summer months. During the summer months, people usually need to wait in line for up to 30 minutes to get the ticket at the park entrance. This time when we came by, there’s only one or two cars in front of us. Yosemite Falls is widely known and it is one of the tallest waterfalls in North America. It appears to be on the

IMMERSE IN NATURE

top 10 list of must visit waterfalls in multiple travel websites. However, when we saw the Yosemite Falls after hours of climbing, we felt a slight disappointment. We couldn’t see the surging water gushing over the crest and crushing onto the rocks below as the snow hadn’t completely melted compared to the summertime.

During the weeks that are best for Horsetail Falls, also known as the Firefall during the month of February. Yosemite requires all visitors to make reservations on the weekends. The shuttle driver told me that the number of people visiting could be as high as 2,500-to 5,000 a day only to see the Firefall. If visiting during these few days, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes because visitors need to walk for most of the time navigating through the park.

About 3pm most of the shuttles will be overcrowded, there’s little chance to get on, my two brothers were forced to walk three miles back to the hotel. While I was on the shuttle, I heard a person who couldn’t get on the shuttle say that he’d been waiting for over 45 minutes.

Even though there weren’t as many people visiting the park, everyone only had a sole destination — Firefall. One lane from one side of the Valley Loop Trail was completely blocked out for pedestrians.

Drop-offs were not allowed after noon.

We weren’t able to see the Firefall since the two days we visited were either rainy or cloudy. From the pictures of various sites, the firefall seems powerful and majestic.

However, the site is very far from where visitors could reach. Bringing a long distance camera will be a desirable choice.

The experience of being able to see the firefall is once in a lifetime. Numerous photographers tirelessly gushed from all around

the world to see it. We leave with regret of not being able to see the Firefall. However, I will be more prepared and definitely check the weather before we visit next time.

I really hope that I will be able to see this spectacular view one day in the future. v Upper Yosemite Falls trial (Above): Me and my family climbing on this 7.6-mile roundtrip to see the world famous Yosemite Falls. The trail is very strenous but the views were truly astonishing. Photo by Lillian Zhang.

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Text and photos by MIHIKA SRIDHAR

The Attack of Tourism Rise of extreme tourism is devasting local cultures

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S I WALKED DOWN the streets of Playa Del Carmen Mexico I passed vendors with their tables huddled under small umbrellas hiding from the brutal sun with only a few customers. Turning my head I found the tourists congregated around a souvenir shop with the same items as the store down the street. The entire culture of native Mexicans were solely represented by “I Love Mexico” t-shirts. I could see the look of defeat on the faces of the vendors as travelers rushed over to the big store not even sparing them a glance.

Travel has been steadily increasing since COVID and many places around the world are feeling it. And while there are millions of places to visit, there are places that have become tourist hubs.

On the surface, tourism seems to be good. Billions of dollars are going into the economy and local businesses seem to be prospering. However, the moment you look under the surface this all disappears. All the money is going straight to the top 1% and the locals are suffering with destruction of their lands and getting pushed out of their homes.

According to the Ecology Project International,with over 45 million visitors, Mexico was the seventh most popular tourist destination before COVID-19 and it’s slowly regaining its fame. Even though it seems that tourism is good for the economy and people of Mexico, it’s the exact opposite. The Ecology Project International reports tourists contribute 400 tons of trash every day, which is onethird of all the waste produced there. And with Mexico home to a little over 10% of the world’s species, the trash that is being produced, which is mostly plastic, is be-

ing ingested by these animals. of the impact being faced by those who Many of these countries are already fac- live there. ing big climate problems destroying their SkyTruth writes that as a result of the sewunique ecosystems and animals going age from tourist attractions, algae blooms extinct. Tourism is just exacerbating this have formed in the waters of Cancún, deissue with the amount of waste it produc- stroying the coral reefs. When the reefs es. The first small beach I visited in Mex- are destroyed there will be no fish, which ico had a faded white sign planted in the will hurt locals who depend on fishing ground that read “CLOSED” in big red for a living. As a result, there would be letters. And as I visited more places the sign a steep decline in people visiting places just kept popping up from small beaches like Mexico because there is no attraction to little trails on hikes. When I asked why, to see. Furthermore people like snorkelfive different owners said the same thing: ing guides and many others who depend tourism on tourism, destroyed would lose All the money is going straight their jobs. the place.

I experi- to the top 1% and the locals are Many people enced this are saying that first hand suffering with destruction of tourists help when I their lands and getting pushed the local culwent snorture and peoout of their homes keling off ple because a beach. they are adDiving into the water I looked around miring them. And I would agree with this at the crystal clear water, the reef full of statement, but the way they show this every color you can imagine glistens in “admiration” is ultimately worse for the the sun. Fish ranging from the size of my locals and land. By staying at huge hotels, palm to as big as a baby swam around visiting the huge tourist attractions, and darting around the reef. And then I saw not cleaning up after themselves these it, reflecting the sunlight a small plastic visitors are harming the place for the lobag floats around the ocean like a jelly- cals and future travelers. fish. I grab it and give it to my dad to Currently tourism is all too prevalent hold on to, however this was just the be- which is leading to cultural, economic ginning. The sandy floor was littered with and social downfall of countries. There pieces of trash from a little blue milk tag are a multitude of ways to be a “good” to a pull tag from a can. traveler whether that is being respectful, People all over the world are trying to kind, or courteous. Despite tourism’s ragmake their homes and where they live ing impacts, there is no cost associated more sustainable. On the other hand, with being a good traveler, and as a hutourists are visiting countries, like Mexi- man, it’s simple decency. v co, and they leave not realizing what their impact might be. Resulting in the brunt

Deep Dive: In Mexico, the scuba diver swims in a cenote surrounded by alagee and fish. Deep into the cave the walls close in he dives through the halocline.

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The Museum of Modern Art has an extensive collection of diverse styles of art forms ranging from human sized sculptures to intricate drawings. Spending a few hours in this building could introduce you to a passion for art.

The Palace of Fine Arts is a beautiful area filled with Greco-Roman architecture in the high dome structures and decorative columns. Contrast to the bustling city-like noises of cabs and vendors, this area has a peaceful environment where you can hear soft chatter and birds chirping.

A local’s guide to

Union Square is definitely a major tourist attraction, however the amazing array of shops and restaurants makes the stop worth it. The area is the ultimate city experience, high skyscrapers, populated streets, and multiple street performers singing and dancing at the square.

Text and photos by ANIKA NAIR

A hidden gem in the city is Dolores Park. Overlooking the city skyline the park has large areas of grass where locals sunbathe on a sunny day, and a small park where children play. The park serves a gathering place for the community and you will see picnics, skaters, and the occasional DJ.

San Francisco VIA Verde 25

LANDING GALLERY OF STUDENT TRAVEL PHOTOS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

New York City, United States

Photo by Aryan Kawatra

Jalisco, Mexico

Photo by Hiram Garcia Pinto

Cabo san lucas, Mexico

Photo by Kasmira Lada

oaxaca, Mexico

Photo by Kasmira Lada

rio de janeiro, Brazil

Photo by Otto Kiss Meyerfreud

Maui, Hawaii

Photo by Polina van Hulsen

VIA Verde 27

Sierra Nevada, California

Photo by Kat Farrell