Don’t Skip: Nagasaki, Japan
Intro to Nagasaki Fishing village to busy port Modern visitors to Nagasaki may not realize there’s a lot more to the city’s history than its sad title as one of the places an atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. Nagasaki was once a sleepy fishing village. When the Portuguese arrived in the 16th century, they […]
Weekly Photo Challenge: Culture
Pre Rup temple is located just south of the Eastern Reservoir within the Angkor Wat Archaeological Complex in Cambodia. The temples are a symbol of the country and a source of pride for its people. The ancient site, as much as 1000 years old, is visited by hordes of tourists, but somehow retains a deep sense of peace. […]
A Hindu Temple in Atlanta: Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
A Hindu temple in Lilburn? We’d never heard of one until this weekend, but sure enough, the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is right there on Rockbridge Road at Lawrenceville Highway in Lilburn, open since 2007. A mandir is a Hindu place of worship, which also serves as a center for community social, educational, cultural and religious activities. […]
Weekly Photo Challenge: Illumination
Illumination has many interpretations, from the simple brightening with light, to a deeper spiritual or intellectual enlightenment. In India, both of these concepts seemed to constantly be at play. Major temples and structures glow in the night, an ever-present reminder of their importance. Colorful, twinkly lights adorn restaurants and shops, inviting people to enter. There […]
Varanasi: Living on the Edge…of the Ganga
Travel engages all five senses, sometimes six, and we experience destinations through all of them. Sight is obvious, but hear a certain drumbeat, and it reminds me of sitting around a campfire in Botswana. Smelling coconut and papaya always brings me back to a Caribbean beach. When I feel sweat running out of every pore, […]
Jogja On My Mind
No trip to Indonesia would be complete without a visit to the island of Java: not just to sample the coffee but to see how a true Indonesian city feels. After a quick fifty minute flight from Bali, we arrived in the city of Yogyakarta, Jogjakarta or, locally, Jogja. Our best-laid plan for accommodation was […]
Kyoto Yes, Kyoto Noh
An early start helped us beat the crowds to a special spot called Fushimi Inari. The shrines were originally dedicated to the gods of rice and sake, and later expanded to include prosperity in business. Along with a number of pretty shrines and countless statues of foxes (messenger of Inari), the area provides a peaceful […]
Kamakura
Kamakura was the capital of Japan from 1185 to 1333. It was a time of great battles and feuds, but eventually a leader called Yoritomo set up his base at Kamakura, near those loyal to the Minamoto clan. The base remained a center of power for this shogun and his heirs until it was weakened […]
Cuzco: Heart of the Inca Empire
Cuzco History Heart of the ancient Inca empire, Cuzco is located in the heart of the Andes at about 11,000 feet. We’d recently been in Puno, and this was a bit lower. We were glad to have arrived by land, since it gave us the chance to adjust to the altitude. There are a number […]
Santa Catalina Convent
The convent of Santa Catalina is like a city within a city. It takes up around five acres. It was built in 1580 and later expanded. Nuns lived in the complex for over 400 years, completely isolated from the outside world, and many were buried within the complex as well. Today, a large part of […]