Asia
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Climbing the Great Wall of China One Step at a Time
The Great Wall of China is a collection of walls that served to protect the Chinese Empire and were used for border control purposes. In Beijing, the “Badaling” section of the Great Wall is one of the most gorgeous and well preserved parts. Thus, despite it being very touristy, we decided to climb this very scenic section of the Great Wall. Many tourists opted to ride the cable car to the most popular area of the “Badaling” section. However, we wanted to experience what it would be like to hike up the Great Wall. It takes a lot of strength and endurance to climb the Great Wall. I have to…
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How I Became a Geisha in Kyoto, Japan
While we were strolling the streets of Gion, the most famous Geisha district in Kyoto, we luckily came across a Geisha parade. All the Geishas were dressed in beautifully ornate kimonos, and were walking gracefully in their high wooden sandals. Later that day we watched an entertaining show in which Geishas performed tea ceremonies, flower arrangements, and played musical instruments while singing. A Geisha, is a woman who is well-rehearsed in the arts of conversation, dance, and music. They are artisans who serve to entertain men. It takes a lot of training, hard work, and patience in order to learn and develop the skills required for becoming a Geisha. Before…
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The Shadows of Indian Society
The train pulls out of the Chennai’s station and into the early morning sunlight. I am exhausted, it has been a long night. With my heavy backpack on my shoulders, I sit uncomfortably on a second class seat. There are Indians everywhere on the train; some are fast asleep while others are gazing quietly out the windows. I close my eyes. I desperately need rest. Soon however, I am awakened by a horrid smell. The stench is so unbearably awful. I open my eyes. As the train, continues to roar down the tracks, I stare with disgust at the fields of waste. There is filth everywhere. It seems like a…
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A Sacred Site for Sikhs: The Golden Temple
This is Harmandir Sahib, better known as the “Golden Temple” in Amritsar, India. It has become a holy place of worship for Sikhs. And, it is remarkably beautiful. I absolutely had a lovely experience visiting this sacred site. The moment I stepped inside the temple area, I was overcome by a sense of serenity and happiness. Aside from the mellow sounds of prayer, the water and massive space surrounding the temple created a very soothing atmosphere. It was a haven away from the hectic narrow and chaotic streets of Amritsar. Dedicated Sikh worshipers line up in an orderly fashion to have the chance to enter and pray inside the Golden…
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Kerala’s Backwaters in Alleppey, India
These are the serene and pristine backwaters of Alleppey, India. Upon entering the backwaters, it felt like time had slowed down. The weather was gorgeous. The vegetation was plentiful and luscious. It was a beautiful place in time for me. We shared our kettuvallam (a houseboat) with a lovely Australian couple, while we enjoyed our two day and one night tour of the backwaters. Together, we reveled in the beautiful scenic views of nature, good conversation, and chess games. As a treat, we were offered a plateful of fried bananas as snacks. It was the first time we had ever eaten fried bananas and they were absolutely delicious. Eating fried…
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A Slice of Paradise: Malaysia’s Perhentian Islands
The Perhentian Islands near Malaysia’s northeast coast are a slice of heavenly paradise. These are photos of long beach on Perhentian Kecil, the smaller of the two Perhentian islands. Long beach was mostly popular among the backpacking crowd due to the cheap accommodations and nightlife. The sand was soft, and the water was turquoise blue with excellent visibility. The water was perfect for swimming. This is the bungalow we rented during our stay at the beach. Although the accommodations were not luxurious, the location was excellent. We were literally on the beach. During our stay here, we encountered this monitor lizard that occasionally would crawl under our bungalow. As of…
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The Gorgeous Kuang Si Falls of Laos
After a long and hot day of trekking in the jungles around Luang Prabang, Laos, our guide took us to the gorgeous Kuang Si Falls. This 3 tier waterfall and its surroundings were so incredibly enchanting that I felt I was in paradise. It was beautiful how the white water cascaded down from the shallow pools high above and gathered in the numerous turquoise blue pools. The natural rocks and trees amid the waterfall also added to its beauty. As I stepped into one of the pools, I was surprised by the water’s temperature. It was very cold. Despite it being a very hot day, I was only able to…
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Surviving Inside Vietnam’s Cu Chi Tunnels
This is one of the many entrances to the Cu Chi tunnels, a network of tunnels lived in by thousands of Vietnamese civilians during the Vietnam War. These tunnels which are located in the area called Cu Chi, near Ho Chi Minh city, belong to even a larger network of tunnels that spread throughout the country. As I walked uncomfortably through the tunnels, I was shocked at how the Vietnamese managed to live in such harsh and tight conditions. I could only imagine how dreadful each day must have been not knowing if you would survive yet another bomb thrown by the Americans. The space in the tunnels was extremely…
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Peaceful Palmyra in the Syrian Desert
When Jason mentioned visiting Syria during our World Trip, I was reluctant at first. I had always heard on the news and from people, that Syria was a very dangerous place to travel. However, I eventually decided to overcome my fears and travel through Syria with a sense of adventure. It was worth it! At the time of our travel, Syria was a beautiful and peaceful country. One of our highlights in Syria was visiting Palmyra, an ancient Aramaic city located in the Syrian desert. As we walked amid the ruins, I remember thinking, “These ruins look so beautiful within this quiet desert setting.” We leisurely explored the ruins, relaxed,…
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The Towering Taipei 101
This was the view of the sunrise from our rooftop in Taipei, Taiwan. I have seen many beautiful buildings, and one of my favorites is Taipei 101. I simply love the design of this building. It looks even more spectacular during New Year’s Eve, when fireworks shoot off the building in all directions. For nearly a year, I was fortunate enough to admire this architectural beauty daily, not only from my rooftop but also on the subway ride to and from work. What is your favorite building in the world?
