Hot in travel: engaging stories from around the globe this week

Here are some stories from around the world that inspired, engaged and gave us hope, after a week of somber news from Paris, Kenya, Beirut, and Mali.

The Renwick Gallery, a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, has reopened after two years of renovations and is filled with some amazing new pieces of art in an exhibit entitled WONDER. And what’s more, the gallery is taking a totally different approach by encouraging people to take pictures. To read more go here.

Gabriel Dawe, Plexus A1, 2015
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Courtesy Conduit Gallery Image by Ron Blunt

After weeks of it being constantly in the news, we took a moment to explain and understand what the climactic phenomenon of El Nino really is, and why it’s bad news. To read more go here.

Coral bleaching is affecting 38% of the world’s coral reefs Image by Shutterstock

Our prayers have been answered and a group of animal biologists have discovered the secret to the language of pandas. Scientists identified and translated 13 vocalisations that pandas use to communicate with one another, and the world cheered. To read more go here. 

Newborn panda is the star of the show at Malaysia zoo. Image by Marc Blickle / CC BY-SA 2.0

An illustrated  pamphlet released by educational publisher Astrapi in France,  acts as a special guide to talking to children about what happened in the Paris attacks. The colourful and illustrated guide shows a weeping Eiffel Tower holding hands with children. Beneath it there are listed a series of possible questions children might ask. Read full story here. 

A crying Eiffel Tower mourns the Paris victims in an educational leaflet for children Image by Astrapi

It’s that time of year again. About  46.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home over the Thanksgiving travel period – 25 to 29 November – the most since 2007, according to AAA Travel, a travel product and services company. To read more go here

Americans travelling at Thanksgiving will have to deal with traffic chaos. Image by icoNYCa / CC BY 2.0

India’s biggest taxi app, Ola, set up a boat service to help those affected by the rains and floods in Chennai in Southeastern India this week, sparking a debate as to whether it was well-intentioned support or an elaborate publicity stunt. To read more go here.

Ola boats transporting passengers stranded by floods Image by Sai Shyam/Twitter