"It’s an irritating reality that many places and events defy description. Angkor Wat and Machu Picchu, for instance, seem to demand silence, like a love affair you can never talk about. For a while after, you fumble for words, trying vainly…

If you've ever walked in a wilderness area, one of the first things your guide will tell you is "should we surprise an animal, whatever you do do not run". The funny thing is that what normally follows are tales from guides of newly wed couples…