Travel is about discovery and amazement. An “older than time” Buddhist temple in Thailand, a vast and detailed Dubrovnik cityscape, the Taj, the David….the big “aha” moments. Sometimes though, it’s that random glimpse of genius that commands my attention. Wandering the cobblestone streets of Rovinj, Croatia on a lovely summer afternoon, a stunning display of bracelets caught my eye. Statement pieces every one. Crafted in a variety of metals, each was a wearable sculpture. A work of art. Of course, I stopped to admire. The shop owner was, as I found all the Croatian people I met, gracious and w ..read more

Thousands of vermilion Torii gates blazing in the August sun which straddle a network of trails behind its main shrines. The trails lead into the wooded forest of the sacred Mount Inari. I was fortunate to visit on a steamy August day… A torii is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the ordinary to the sacred, and a spot where deities are welcomed and thought to travel through. Dedicated to Inari, the deity of a good harvest and success in business, Fushimi Inari Taisha is the head of ..read more

A morning walk along the Miyagawa River finds farmers and craftspeople selling sansai (mountain vegetables), wasakana (river fish) along with selections of local pottery and vintage kimonos repurposed as ornate handbags and a subtle rainbow of silk jackets. This remarkably preserved city of 80,000 is in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu Prefecture. Takayama retains a traditional touch like few other Japanese cities, especially in its beautifully preserved old town surrounded by the scenic countryside of the Japanese Alps. Every April, Takayama hosts tens of thousands visitors Takay ..read more

As strange to me as a rare bird, precious and mysterious. Doll-like, she silently entered our hosted dinner in the Gion area of Kyoto and turned so that we could admire the lavish, shimmering brocade of her kimono. Her kimono weighs over twenty pounds. She is rigorously corseted into her garments which require a man’s strength to tighten. Her voluminous obi cinched a tiny waist. She was regal yet delicate and moved with uncanny grace. Only her lower lip was painted, the indication of a maiko or geisha in training. The history of a geisha’s iconic makeup goes back to the Heian Period (794-1185 ..read more

An afternoon at Tokyo’s Tsujiki Outer Market introduced me to the art of Japanese shopping. This is Japan’s “Food Town,” featuring every imaginable traditional Japanese food. It’s raucous and noisy but in a very polite, Japanese way. One main and three side streets feature stalls of the finest, just off the hook sushi-grade fillets in rainbow display. Or blast-cooked, in season oysters. Luscious! Grills smoke, griddles spit and the whole experience is a feast for the senses. Samples are cheerfully offered. There is no bargaining, no one’s pushing their merchandise but obliging shopkeepers are ..read more

Spanning almost 150,000 square feet, Tokyo Night & Light is the largest architectural projection-mapped display in the world! “Tokyo Night & Light” is a projection mapping display which uses light and sound as an expression of multi-coloured art, with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, one of Tokyo’s main landmarks, as its canvas. Travel Weekly Asia Designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, this iconic building (conveniently across the street from my hotel!) now serves as the backdrop for a jaw-dropping and record-breaking projection mapping show. Unveiled on April ..read more

Since most of the world is dealing with scorching summer temps, here’s a cooling visual reprieve. Croatia’s first national park since 1949 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Plitvice Lakes is the country’s oldest and largest with sixteen lakes and innumerable waterfalls. Located very close to the Croatian border with Bosnia, it’s about a two hour drive from either Zagreb or the Adriatic coast. The park is broken up into the upper and lower falls, with a boat ride connecting the two. Various hiking loops are available, with a panoramic train ride that goes through lush forest ..read more

It’s impossible not to be impressed by (1) the sheer immensity of this walled city and it’s legendary fortress. But an impressive distant past beginning with 7th century onslaughts of Slavs, followed by Saracens, 11th century Venetian rule and, through canny diplomacy, good relations with neighboring countries…even the Ottoman Turks, allowed the city to flourish. Until 1667 when flourishing art and architecture (2) was destroyed by an earthquake, marking the beginning of the city’s economic decline. Napoleon lealt the city a fatal blow in 1808 and the Vienna Congress ceded Dubrovnik to Austri ..read more

Each morning before sunrise, the faithful line the sidewalks of the city of Luang Prabang in north central Laos. The custom dates back to the origins of Buddhism, and now hundreds do as Buddha did during his time, roaming the streets barefoot each morning seeking alms. Everyone speaks in hushed, reverential tones as shoes are removed and prayer stoles are draped. Soon the first of a long line of monks approached…from fresh-faced kids to wizened elders, all in brilliant saffron robes with collection bowls slung on a shoulder. monks of all ages… This ceremony, known as Tak Baht (or Sai Bat), is ..read more

The Royal Palace situated within the city of Angkor Thom, close to Siem Reap Cambodia, belonged to kings of the tenth and first half of of the eleventh centuries. King Jayavarman VII built the city, whose name translates to “Great Kingdom” and includes Angkor Wat, over a 30 year period with the assistance of 6,000 elephants. A Chinese emissary, who provided the only first-hand account of the Khmer, described the splendor of Angkor Thom. “At the center of the Kingdom rises a Golden Tower Bayon flanked by more than twenty lesser towers and several hundred stone chambers. On the eastern si ..read more