Latest news with #jungle
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Skeleton found in Guatemala likely that of missing US birdwatcher
Human remains found near an archaeological site in the Guatemalan jungle are thought to be those of a US birdwatcher who was reported missing almost two and a half years ago, local officials say.A lilac shirt, sandals and shorts which match those worn by Raymond Vincent Ashcroft the day of his disappearance were found at the same location where the human bones were discovered, Carlos Soza of the attorney-general's office said. Ashcroft, 66, was part of a birdwatching group visiting the ancient Maya city of Tikal, a Unesco World Heritage site, in February the time of his disappearance, his wife said that Mr Ashcroft had decided to return to the hotel but had never arrived. She had stayed behind with the group, taking photos, and reported him missing as soon as she realised he had not arrived at their hotel room in the Tikal National Park, local media reported at the parties were quickly sent out - just half an hour after Ashcroft had split from his group - but found no trace of the missing tourist. Sniffer dogs were brought in to search the dense vegetation of the national park but to no after his disappearance, Interpol issued a yellow notice but no reports of any sightings were made and no trace of his belongings were found until this bones and clothes matching those worn by Ashcroft were spotted in the jungle 14km from the archaeological site by residents of a nearby village, Mr Soza told a local radio to the official from the Guatemalan Attorney-General's Office for Crimes Against Foreign Tourists, the remains lay within dense vegetation and could only be reached on foot. He added that a DNA test would determine if the remains were those of have gone missing before and since in the vast national park. In 2022, a 53-year-old German man became separated from his group and died from heat in 2023, a French family was found dehydrated but safe after being lost for two days.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- The Guardian
‘We painted, sang songs': the Russian woman found living in Indian cave with daughters
According to Nina Kutina, life for her and her two daughters in their jungle cave had been peaceful. Buried deep in the forests of Gokarna, a coastal town in southern India, they had woken 'up with the sun, swam in rivers and lived in nature'. 'I cooked on a fire or gas cylinder, depending on the season, and got groceries from a nearby village. We painted, sang songs, read books and lived peacefully,' Kutina said, according to Indian media reports. Then the police arrived. The story of how the 40-year-old Russian woman and her daughters, aged six and four, came to be living in a damp cave in the state of Karnataka has gripped the country. The family was discovered by police on 9 July during a patrol of the hilly forest area, which is popular with tourists, when officers spied a curtain of red saris hanging in the trees. Moving closer, they realised it was covering the entrance of a cave. A statue of a Hindu god was visible, as were scattered items of clothing. Then a blond child emerged. Behind her, the police were astonished to find Kutina, asleep with another child by her side. Kutina told officers she had moved to the cave for meditation and prayer, and to get herself and her children away from modern urban life and into nature. She had cooked vegetable curries and roti on a small gas stove and they had bathed in waterfalls and slept on plastic mats. Police believe she had been there for at least a week when they found her and had spent several stints living in the cave over the past nine months. Kutina dismissed the officers' warnings that it was a highly dangerous place to live, especially during the monsoon, telling police that 'animals and snakes are our friends' and that it was only humans who were dangerous. Despite her objections, police insisted on removing the family from the cave and taking them back to the town, where they were placed in a shelter after Kutina had a hospital checkup. M Narayana, a local superintendent of police, said Kutina appeared 'deeply disillusioned with human society, yet still compassionate and spiritually grounded'. Kutina messaged a friend after being taken from her 'big and beautiful cave', saying her family had been 'placed in a prison without sky, without grass, without a waterfall, with an icy hard floor on which we now sleep for 'protection from rain and snakes'…. Once again, evil has won.' According to immigration records cited by Indian officials, Kutina first travelled to India in 2016, ending up in Arambol Beach, in Goa, a destination popular with Russian travellers. A year later, she had begun a relationship with an Israeli man, Dror Goldstein. After overstaying her visa in 2018, Kutina was deported to Russia and travelled to Ukraine, where she had their first daughter. She already had two older sons from a previous relationship. In 2020, Kutina returned to India with her children. She reunited with Goldstein in Goa and became pregnant again, making money as an art and language teacher. According to Goldstein, who spoke to Indian media, Kutina began withdrawing from him and would disappear for long periods with their two daughters. Then, in October last year, her eldest son, 21, was killed in a motorcycle crash in India. After Goldstein travelled to Nepal to renew his visa, he returned to Goa to find Kutina and their daughters had disappeared. He filed a police report in December but had heard nothing until reports of their discovery emerged this week. Asked by journalists why she had remained in India without any valid documents, Kutina said there were 'many complicated reasons'. 'First, there were multiple personal losses – not just the death of my son, but also a few other close people. We were constantly dealing with grief, paperwork and other problems,' she said. Kutina claimed her son's ashes were among the belongings removed from the cave. With no valid documents to remain, the family were moved to a detention centre and police are arranging for Kutina's deportation to Russia.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- The Guardian
‘We painted, sang songs': the Russian woman found living in Indian cave with daughters
According to Nina Kutina, life for her and her two daughters in their jungle cave had been peaceful. Buried deep in the forests of Gokarna, a coastal town in southern India, they had woken 'up with the sun, swam in rivers and lived in nature'. 'I cooked on a fire or gas cylinder, depending on the season, and got groceries from a nearby village. We painted, sang songs, read books and lived peacefully,' Kutina said, according to Indian media reports. Then the police arrived. The story of how the 40-year-old Russian woman and her daughters, aged six and four, came to be living in a damp cave in the state of Karnataka has gripped the country. The family was discovered by police on 9 July during a patrol of the hilly forest area, which is popular with tourists, when officers spied a curtain of red saris hanging in the trees. Moving closer, they realised it was covering the entrance of a cave. A statue of a Hindu god was visible, as were scattered items of clothing. Then a blond child emerged. Behind her, the police were astonished to find Kutina, asleep with another child by her side. Kutina told officers she had moved to the cave for meditation and prayer, and to get herself and her children away from modern urban life and into nature. She had cooked vegetable curries and roti on a small gas stove and they had bathed in waterfalls and slept on plastic mats. Police believe she had been there for at least a week when they found her and had spent several stints living in the cave over the past nine months. Kutina dismissed the officers' warnings that it was a highly dangerous place to live, especially during the monsoon, telling police that 'animals and snakes are our friends' and that it was only humans who were dangerous. Despite her objections, police insisted on removing the family from the cave and taking them back to the town, where they were placed in a shelter after Kutina had a hospital checkup. M Narayana, a local superintendent of police, said Kutina appeared 'deeply disillusioned with human society, yet still compassionate and spiritually grounded'. Kutina messaged a friend after being taken from her 'big and beautiful cave', saying her family had been 'placed in a prison without sky, without grass, without a waterfall, with an icy hard floor on which we now sleep for 'protection from rain and snakes'…. Once again, evil has won.' According to immigration records cited by Indian officials, Kutina first travelled to India in 2016, ending up in Arambol Beach, in Goa, a destination popular with Russian travellers. A year later, she had begun a relationship with an Israeli man, Dror Goldstein. After overstaying her visa in 2018, Kutina was deported to Russia and travelled to Ukraine, where she had their first daughter. She already had two older sons from a previous relationship. In 2020, Kutina returned to India with her children. She reunited with Goldstein in Goa and became pregnant again, making money as an art and language teacher. According to Goldstein, who spoke to Indian media, Kutina began withdrawing from him and would disappear for long periods with their two daughters. Then, in October last year, her eldest son, 21, was killed in a motorcycle crash in India. After Goldstein travelled to Nepal to renew his visa, he returned to Goa to find Kutina and their daughters had disappeared. He filed a police report in December but had heard nothing until reports of their discovery emerged this week. Asked by journalists why she had remained in India without any valid documents, Kutina said there were 'many complicated reasons'. 'First, there were multiple personal losses – not just the death of my son, but also a few other close people. We were constantly dealing with grief, paperwork and other problems,' she said. Kutina claimed her son's ashes were among the belongings removed from the cave. With no valid documents to remain, the family were moved to a detention centre and police are arranging for Kutina's deportation to Russia.
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Travel + Leisure
14-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Oaxaca, Mexico's Pacific Coast Just Got a New Hotel With Only 6 Suites, a Pentagon Villa, and Stunning Ocean Views
La Valise Mazunte La Valise Mazunte just opened with six suites within the state of Oaxaca, Mexico's El Torón Reserve on the Pacific Coast. The views from every corner of the resort—whether poolside, in the restaurant, or from the room—are stunning. The sound of the ocean, while perhaps an acquired taste for some, is instantly calming. The restaurant offers a menu that strikes the perfect balance of enough variety without being overwhelming. The minimalist design is effortlessly chic, blending so well into the natural surroundings that I had to search for my villa from the restaurant, which has a direct view of it. It's that well integrated. As a child, I'd fall sleep to the sound of waves—pre-recorded ocean tracks, that is. There was something deeply soothing about the rhythmic crashes, even if they were coming from a speaker. And when the sound alone wasn't enough, I'd imagine where those waves might be landing: distant shores, quiet beaches, somewhere far from the noise of everyday life. That imaginary place, it turns out, exists—and I found it on Mexico's Pacific Coast. Perched on a cliffside within the protected El Torón Reserve in Oaxaca, La Valise Mazunte feels like the destination my imagination once conjured. With just six suites and a pentagon-shaped villa, this boutique retreat is tucked into the jungle in the small beach town of Mazunte, famous for its untamed beauty and the endless soundtrack of waves echoing against its jagged shore. "La Valise Mazunte is not only a place to stay. It is an invitation to become part of the landscape," Yves Namron, the founder of Namron Hospitality, La Valise Hotels' parent company, told Travel + Leisure. "Every detail reflects the beauty of this protected paradise. It is a complete immersion in the grandeur of Oaxaca's coast." That immersion begins with the design. Conceived by Mexican architect Alberto Kalach, the hotel exists seamlessly, as if it's an extension of the land. Built directly into the cliffs, it feels more like a natural formation than a human-made retreat. "Kalach is a master of creating architecture that does not impose, but belongs. His works are celebrated across the world for their ability to merge with nature, to honor the land rather than conquer it," Namron said. "Together with architect Ignacio Urquiza, they imagined a design that feels as though the cliffs and the ocean themselves had shaped it." The five-year process was as intentional as the design. "No machinery touched this place, only the hands of true craftsmen," he added. "Every stone, every beam of wood, was placed with purpose and respect." La Valise Mazunte is the fourth addition to Namron Hospitality's La Valise collection, joining properties in Tulum, Mexico City, and San Miguel de Allende. But for Namron, this project feels especially personal. "The first time I set foot in Mazunte, I felt an energy unlike anything I had known before," he told T+L. "There was a magnetic pull that came not only from the vast Pacific stretching endlessly before me, but from the land itself, ancient and unspoiled. This was not a place to change or reinvent, but a place to honor." Mazunte is blissfully free of big-name resorts and commercial sprawl. Staying here feels like discovering an untouched paradise—one that forces you to slow down and listen. I was among the first to stay at this hidden gem. Here's what it's like to experience La Valise Mazunte for yourself. The Rooms The hotel has six suites and a villa. Nestled in the forest and just a short buggy ride from the main grounds, the one-bedroom Villa Pentágonos is the hotel's crown jewel—a retreat where nature and creature comforts coexist. I arrived at the lush, secluded entrance and followed discrete stone steps down to what would be my private oasis. A minimalist lounge area and an pentagon-shaped infinity pool that appeared to spill into the sea were the first things to greet me. Sliding doors open to the villa's namesake pentagon-shaped bedroom, outfitted with modern comforts: air conditioning, a ceiling fan, and integrated charging ports. The room has two additional sliding doors that open directly to ocean views. If you're counting, the fourth side of the pentagon-shaped room is yet another sliding door that opens onto an outdoor terrace with even broader ocean views and access to the villa's open-air bathroom. Just behind a sleek partition lies cleverly hidden storage for luggage, towels, robes, and a safe. Villa Pentágonos is ideal for those seeking solitude, serenity, and a deep connection to nature. The immersion, of course, comes with the occasional visit from the local ecosystem (think bugs, birds, and critters)—but during my stay, it remained a peaceful, undisturbed retreat. Food and Drink With just one restaurant on-site, the hotel doesn't overcomplicate its food and beverage offering. Serving breakfast, an all-day menu, and dinner, everything can also be ordered directly to your room or enjoyed in the communal terrace dining space. The menu strikes the perfect balance—not too extensive, not too sparse. Breakfast brings a rich selection of local flavors, including memelas with eggs, huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, and chicken itacates. Fresh juices, smoothies, seasonal fruit, coffee, tea, and a daily pastry round out the morning spread. The all-day menu is equally abundant, offering snacks like guacamole, beet hummus, fries, and baba ghanoush; salads including a house version with pineapple and cucumber, and a Thai quinoa salad; a raw bar featuring shrimp aguachile, fish ceviche in hibiscus marinade, and tuna tostadas; and tacos with octopus, shrimp, or chicken. Desserts range from chocolate tomal and cheesecake to buñuelos and creme brulée. Dinner expands on the all-day offerings with entrées like the local catch of the day, pescado a la talla, shrimp-stuffed eggplant, and sweet potato enmoladas. As for beverages, it includes a curated selection of wines (with both white and red options from Mexico), beers, and a cocktail list that naturally highlights mezcal, a nod to Oaxaca. Activities and Experiences At La Valise Mazunte, the views alone feel like an experience—and worth taking time to absorb. But beyond the visuals, the hotel offers an array of activities designed to help you explore the land and sea. Guests can dabble in sunset yoga, book a mezcal tasting, witness sea turtles hatching, go to a temazcal ceremony, or even horseback ride along the shoreline. Depending on the tides, guest can also access a secluded beach with palapas. (During my stay, a strong flood current had pushed the ocean up toward the cliffs, temporarily reclaiming part of the beach.) For those eager to explore beyond the property, Namron suggests heading over to Punta Cometa. "At sunset, it's a wonder few discover," he said. "The sky burns gold, the sea stretches forever, and time seems to stop." He also recommends early morning hikes for the views and symphony of bird songs. "These are not attractions," he added. "These are moments that touch the soul." I enjoyed a tasting from Ruu Piiil Mezcal that taught me the past and present of mezcal production in Oaxaca. I also took part in a calming sunset meditation session and witnessed the release of baby sea turtles—an unforgettable experience organized with local eco-tourism center La Ventanilla. The Spa The spa menu offers a curated selection of treatments from reflexology to stone massages, plus a facial option—all available en suite. With the natural rhythm of the ocean as your soundtrack, there's no need for artificial ambiance. What sets this experience apart is its seamlessness: no changing rooms, no transitions—just roll off the massage table and straight into a blissful nap, if you wish. (Yes, I'm projecting and telling you exactly what I did.) Family-friendly Offerings The hotel welcomes guests aged 12 and older, which is a conscious decision, according to Namron, to "preserve the tranquility of this sanctuary." While there are no amenities designed specifically for teens, all offerings are available to guests across the board, including those in the 12 to 18 age range. Accessibility and Sustainability Aerial view of the resort on the coast. La Valise Mazunte Sustainability is at the core of many operations elements of the hotel, from sourcing ingredients from local farms and fisherman to recycling waste and reducing environmental impact. "Our buildings were made with local stone and wood, using low impact methods that leave the land as undisturbed as possible," Namron said. "Our low-impact construction methods ensure minimal environmental disruption." Located within El Torón, a 30-hectare nature reserve dedicated to wildlife protection and ecological restoration, the property was designed to blend in and leave only a small footprint. "We're not just operating sustainably, we are actively contributing to the preservation of this extraordinary ecosystem," Namron added. In terms of accessibility, Namron said that guests with mobility issues should do a little extra outreach before their stay. "The cliffs that make this place so breathtaking also bring challenges," he said. "We invite guests with mobility needs to contact our concierge so we can provide the best guidance and support for their stay." (While a golf cart is available to assist guests with navigating the steep terrain, some areas may still be difficult to access for those with mobility concerns.) Location La Valise Mazunte sits quietly within the protected El Torón Reserve, a secluded pocket in Mazunte. The journey here is part of the escape: it's about 1 hour and 15 minutes by car from Puerto Escondido Airport (PXM) and just under four hours from Oaxaca de Juárez. The town of Mazunte itself is a short 15-min drive from the hotel and the nearby village of San Agustinillo is just under 20 minutes by car. Book Now La Valise Mazunte is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), a global collection of boutique stays. Guests who join SLH's complimentary membership program can enjoy exclusive perks, including early check-in and late check-out, special discounted rates, and access to the members-only Club rate. Additional perks include complimentary WiFi, bottled water, and breakfast for two. Singing up is free at Nightly rates at La Valise Mazunte start from $400, and you can book your stay at Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.
News.com.au
14-07-2025
- News.com.au
Controversy as notorious Jonestown cult site where 918 died becomes tourist attraction
Warning: This story includes details and photos which may be distressing Jonestown is seared into the American psyche as one the darkest tragedies of the modern era, where 918 people 'drank the Kool Aid' and ended their lives under the command of cult leader Jim Jones. Located in the remote Guyanese jungle, the site where the army first discovered the mass of dead bodies of People's Temple members in 1978 is now opening as a somewhat morbid tourist attraction, the New York Post reports. It is designed to pay sombre tribute in the manner of Auschwitz and the Killing Fields of Cambodia. The curious can pay $US750 ($A1140) to visit the clearing where Jones' religious cult, mostly US citizens who had travelled with him to Guyana in South America, unravelled in the most gruesome way imaginable. And there were survivors — although the overall story of Jones' followers poisoning themselves with cyanide-laced fruit punch (it was actually an off-brand version of Kool-Aid called Flavor-Aid) is notorious, lesser known are how around 80 of Jones' acolytes survived. Some did it by getting lucky and being out of town when the poisonous drinks were served, including Jones' son Stephan Gandhi Jones, who was at a basketball tournament. Others slipped out unseen, running into the jungle or hiding in the camp's cupboards. About 18 of Jones' followers took Congressman Leo Ryan – whose visit to the camp sparked the mass suicide – up on his offer to leave the religious enclave with him. Jordan Vilchez, now 67, who joined the People's Church at 12 and remained there until the end, was fortunate enough to be in Guyana's capital, Georgetown, when the mass suicides went down. 'I created a job for myself, talking about Jonestown to the Guyanese community. That task was acceptable to the leadership, and it allowed me to not spend so much time in Jonestown,' she told The Post. Hearing over a CB radio the Jonestown suicides were happening, she was horrified but not entirely surprised. 'There had been discussions about a mass suicide,' said Ms Vilchez, who lost two sisters and two nephews to the forced killings. 'In some circles, there were practice drills. There was talk of 'Revolutionary Suicide'. There was a running narrative of us being persecuted. 'Unbeknown to us, the world was closing in on Jim. Because of his pathological narcissism, he was not going to go down alone. People were stuck and emotionally drained – I got caught up in it and was not going to escape. Over the years, we got more hooked in. We were told that America would become a police state and our safety was in being part of this group.' Ms Vilchez is against the new tours to the site – where little remains, apart from a commemorative stone and the entrance archway. 'It seems silly. It's something that people will make money from. It seems like an abuse.' The Guyanese tourism company behind the trips, Wanderlust Adventures GY, defend their position. 'We want to present things in a way that is responsible and educational,' Roselyn Sewcharran, founder of the company, told The Post. During the overnight trip to Jonestown 'we talk about the social and political issues, the dangers of following with blind faith and the lessons learned from the Jonestown tragedy.' The People's Temple was founded by Jim Jones, a Communist sympathiser, in Indianapolis, in 1955. He put on fake healings to generate income and promoted the idea that all races and ethnicities would be welcome. In 1961, with the cold war top of mind for most Americans, Jones claimed to have a vision that Indianapolis would be decimated by nuclear attack. The People's Temple relocated to California, with its main headquarters in San Francisco. Jones began proclaiming, 'I am come as God Socialist [sic].' Once in the heavily hippie-fied Frisco, Jones began dabbling in illicit drugs and his sense of paranoia is said to have ratcheted up. Jones, who had a particularly magnetic personality, put up a convincing argument for belonging and in 1974, the People's Temple rented more than 3800 acres in Guyana, a tropical country which borders Venezuela. Jones promised to create a 'socialist paradise,' and reminded followers how he'd read that in the event of a nuclear war, South America was the safest place to be. He sent a cadre of followers to set things up, while he led the church in San Francisco. Things went fairly smoothly at first. 'It was great,' said Thom Bogue, who moved to Guyana in 1976 at the age of 15 with his family. 'I'd work eight hours a day, helping to build cottages and overseeing my own crew in the plant nursery. Then I'd go in the jungle and play before having a nice meal.' Mike Touchette, another Jonestown survivor, agrees. 'We built a community out of nothing in four years,' he told the Chicago Tribune. 'Being in Jonestown before Jim got there was the best thing in my life.' However, in 1977 an article filled with accusations appeared in New West magazine – including that a member's teenage daughter was beaten so badly 'her butt looked like hamburger,' driving Jones to flee to Guyana. Within a year, things on the commune got harder, and weirder. Survivors say there was a feeling of victimhood, perpetrated by Jones. His rambling meetings went on for hours, workdays seemed endless and it became all about ideology rather than Utopia. 'It steadily got worse … Ninety-five per cent of the people had no idea what was going on. It was like being stuck on an island,' Mr Bogue said. However, some did escape and word got back to California, prompting that state's congressman Leo Ryan and a group of journalists to arrive in November 1978, intending to investigate complaints from escapees. Mr Bogue's father was already hatching an escape plan, but when Mr Ryan offered an opportunity to leave with him, the family said they'd join. 'It was a very high-risk opportunity,' Mr Bogue, now 63, said about his family proceeding with Mr Ryan and others to a landing strip where a plane waited to fly them out. 'But maybe it was the best opportunity.' When the group assembled at an airstrip to leave, cult members, including one named Larry Layton, opened fire on them. Mr Ryan was shot dead as were three journalists and a temple member hoping to escape. Layton was later extradited, found guilty of wounding two people and served 18 years in a California prison. Mr Bogue, then 17, was inside the plane when its tires were shot out. He got up from his seat just as one member was shot in the head. Bogue took a bullet to the leg. When the shooting seemed to have abated, he and his sister ran off into the bordering jungle. Back at camp, knowing he'd be implicated in the death of a US senator, Jones gave the command to his faithful that it was time for Revolutionary Suicide. Syringes of cyanide were squirted into juice and sandwiches and consumed by the congregation – the children first. Jones shot himself in the head. Despite his injury, Mr Bogue survived in the jungle for three days. 'I was saved by maggots. They ate the gangrene. And then, during the third morning, I became delirious. I lost all sense of direction. But I was with my sister and three others from [another] family.' They were found and he was reunited with his father. They made their way back to the US shortly after. Nearly 47 years later Bogue works as an auto mechanic and serves as vice mayor of Dixon, California. 'I think it's great to turn it into a tourist attraction and a memorial,' he said, 'I've already been back there three times and the jungle is starting to reclaim the area. I would love to be a consultant on something like that.'
