A Rainy Tour of Porto, Portugal
The plan was to eat and drink through Porto, Portugal, but weather and a poor food choice changed those plans.
UNESCO
Views of the Giant Buddha of Leshan
As flood waters in China have reached the Giant Buddha of Leshan, I’m reminded of my trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Touring Temples at Wat Xieng Thong in Luang Prabang
There’s a lot to see around touristy Luang Prabang, and Wat Xieng Thong, the most important of temples in town, is at the top of the list.
Difficulty in Writing History at Teotihuacan
It’s important to learn the history of the places we visit, but the history of Teotihuacan in Mexico is not entirely known.
Witnessing the Scale of the Terracotta Army in Xi’an
On my first summer holiday in China, I visited the Terracotta Army in Xi’an and was in awe at the epic size of this ancient tomb for the Qin Emperor.
Overcoming Church Fatigue in Venice
Finding a renewed sense of appreciation for church architecture at the ornately decorated St. Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) in Venice, Italy.
The Road to Picturesque Prambanan
After awaking early in Yogyakarta to watch the sunrise at Borobudur, I headed to the other UNESCO World Heritage Site — Prambanan Temple Complex.
Calm Lake at Banteay Srei, Cambodia
On my second day in Siem Reap, I stopped at a lake outside Banteay Srei to enjoy the calm hidden from the large groups of tourists at Angkor Wat.
Biking through Bagan
Most travelers only spend a day or two in Bagan while in Myanmar. Due to my own carelessness, I got 5 days of biking in the land of pagodas.
Birthday Borobudur Sunrise
What ever became of my youth? I wanted to stop a stranger and ask. “It went into hiding,” said an old woman Who’d read my mind. “Swimming with sharks,” a drunk concurred – Charles Simic, from The Stray There wasn’t much time to prepare. I had a long overnight layover in Kuala Lumpur on my …
Watching the Sunset Over Tō-Ji in Kyoto
Before setting out to Kyoto with my limited itinerary, I read that the sunset was beautiful around Tō-Ji, Eastern Temple. Or maybe I read that it was meant for sunrise, but I wasn’t about to wake up that early.
Wandering Through Castles in Kyoto
A long walk through Kyoto, Japan, to reach Nijo Castle to see the Tokugawa Shogun residence and gardens.
Feeling Underwhelmed at Thang Long, a UNESCO Site in Vietnam
Feeling underwhelmed during a visit to Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Walking Through Seoul’s Secret Garden at Changdeokgung
A visit to Changdeokgung palace in Seoul, South Korea, including a tour of the secret garden. This is one of the largest and most impressive palaces in Korea.
Admiring the Duomo in Florence
Relieving the effects of church fatigue in Florence while admiring the ornate Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as Il Duomo di Firenze.