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These seven powerful TED Talks are guaranteed to ignite the explorer within, and have you pining to pack your bags. Prepare to be swept away on a journey to distant places. Brace yourself for never-before-seen creatures, exquisite architecture, and unusual cultural practices. Surf in the most desolate waters on earth, or listen to the ritualistic music of Peruvian tribes.
All you have to do is press ‘play.’
1. MAGICAL HOUSES, MADE OF BAMBOO
Designed by Elora Hardy, these bamboo houses built in Bali are simply exquisite. No two poles of bamboo are alike, so every home, bridge and bathroom is one-of-a-kind. In this TED Talk, Hardy delivers a powerful speech about the creative and sustainable potential of bamboo, a natural resource with the power to spark the imagination.
2. THE JOY OF SURFING IN ICE-COLD WATER
Surf photographer Chris Burkard will take you on a journey to the coldest, choppiest, most isolated beaches on earth – places few humans have seen, much less surfed. With the help of awe-inspiring photos, Burkard shares stories about his "personal crusade against the mundane."
3. UNSEEN FOOTAGE, UNTAMED NATURE
Karen Bass is a filmmaker that has shot astonishing footage for BBC and National Geographic. In this TED Talk, Bass shares videos of strange creatures and exotic places, including unseen footage.
4. WHERE IS HOME?
In this insightful TED Talk, acclaimed travel writer, Pico Iyer, meditates on the meaning of home. Having three or four “origins” himself, Iyer ruminates on the joy of traveling, as well as the serenity of standing still.
5. WHY BOTHER LEAVING THE HOUSE?
Explorer Ben Saunders is urging you to go outside. Why? Well, as an advocate of the natural world and the youngest person to ever ski solo to the North Pole, Saunders understands that the outdoors is “the juice that we can suck out of our hours and days.”
6. HIDDEN MUSIC RITUALS AROUND THE WORLD
Embark on a musical journey around the world, and witness the rituals of the Sufi in Chechnya to the ayahuasca in Peru. In this TED Talk, global wanderer Vincent Moon explains these music rituals in hopes that people can see culture in a different light.
7. A GLIMPSE OF LIFE ON THE ROAD
Camera in hand, self-proclaimed vagabond Kitra Cahana follows modern-day nomads into their homes – boxcars, bus stops, and parking lots – providing a glimpse into the lives of those on the road.
