Inspiring you on your own journey . . .
The dusty city of Luoyang in China’s Henan Province does little to inspire a sense of history at first glance. The functional grim architecture is very much of the new China. The hastily constructed blocks appear hazy in the dust cloud that penetrates the crevices of this industrial city. First impressions can be deceptive and […]
Arriving at the rudimentary bus depot, you hire a samlor (tuk-tuk) to take you on to the object of your intentions. While Saraburi holds some interest as a strategic city founded in 1549 by King Maha Chakkraphat of Ayutthaya, there is not much keeping you there and it is outside of the town that a […]
The rain comes down in a light, but penetrating drizzle as you wander through the streets of Taiwan’s capital city. Taipei feels a little run down and as you enter a covered market street, the dank walls do little to challenge that perception. Weaving through small vegetable stands, you break out back into the rain. […]
The dry plain all around you is studded with countless monumental structures. The red bricks of the crumbling edifices contrast sharply with the bright blue sky. The arid land reflects the power of the unsheathed sun, exposing you to visible waves of heat that blur the air around you. The trees offer little respite from […]
As soon as you step off the train, something darts through your field of vision. It is nimble and you are not sure if you really saw it. Then again, more and more little creatures fly through the trees and along power lines. Monkeys everywhere. Wherever you look there is a primate watching, waiting for […]
Your stay in the coal town of Datong has been brief. After a day exploring the old hutongs, reconstructed temples and city walls, you make the break and hire a driver to take you out of the perma-grey atmosphere. The driver cheerfully chatters to you in a mix of English and Mandarin, hoping to hone his […]
Clutching your bus day ticket, you clamber aboard the busy Kyoto bus that pulls up in front of you. Finding a seat, you keep one eye on the LED display at the front of the vehicle and one on the route map. The efficient and punctual service takes you on a meandering tour through the […]
For the second time in recent history, a tragedy is set to befall an ancient Afghan Buddhist monument. The world was shaken when, in 2001, the callous and zealous Taliban destroyed the famous Buddhas of Bamiyan. The Taliban government declared them to be idols and ordered them dynamited. The shocking images sent the world reeling. […]
Navigating the various Buddhas and bodhisattvas can be a very confusing task. Every temple can seem filled with overwhelming imagery. With a little knowledge, a visit to a Buddhist temple can be a rich and fulfilling experience that takes you through the heart of Buddhist philosophy. Each school of Buddhism has its own venerated figures, […]
The peninsula of Macau is a confusing and paradoxical place. Wandering through its streets you feel as if you are in Europe. The Portuguese street names add a dimension of colonial charm to your drifting, but are almost incomprehensible to many locals who only speak and read Cantonese. At ground level, the buildings remind you […]
