TRAVEL BLOG
Glen Ellen Vineyards in Autumn
The house was leased for a year, car was sold and most of the furniture too. Stuff stored at my sister and brother in law’s home and all preparations in place to leave “base” this weekend!
Travel Around the World
On April 16, 2022 I travel East to spend time in the Netherlands. Then visit Great Britain, Scotland, Ireland. After this, continue on to Belgium, France, Africa, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Thailand, Laos, China, India, Australia, and New Zealand before returning home in the early summer of 2023. I'm going to try and keep this blog up to date with the hope that you might travel with me remotely and share your favorite experiences in the countries I'm visiting!
Take Off !
Darling, when things go wrong in life, you lift up
The house was leased for a year; the car sold,
NETHERLANDS
This open air museum allows you to step back into
A small group of us were guided by a Amsterdam
Amsterdam is a great place to ditch the map and
French fries come with a blob of mayonnaise here and
I was recommended to this cafe by a salesman when
Merry makers – young and old alike – celebrate the
Mediterranean refugees settled here in 1,200 and while tilling virgin
Edam, famous for its cheese, is in the district of
I was going to drive to Freesland to explore the
19 windmills, built around 1740 to manage water and prevent
While its name reads like the bottom of an eye
A tour of the Ann Frank Huis requires a time
ENGLAND
My nephew is the consummate networker and has developed a
Lukka, Daniel’s partner, and an extraordinary kind soul, made sure
The British seem to be insistent on making mushy peas
I’m staring at the palace when a fellow American sidled
A woman who moved from the US to England about
Travel reminds me that everything sorts itself out in the
It’s so much fun to spend time with locals while
While in the Lake District, I stumbled on to a
This tavern was established in the 12th century, making it
I am a banquet of the places I’ve been, the
This beautiful region is a favorite – it’s a landscape
A walk along the River Avon and viewing the Putteney
This tour is really great if you want to time
The bridge is an iconic symbol of London for me
The villages in Cotswold just ooze with charm – my
This is such a beautiful city in yet another beautiful,
SCOTLAND
just a portion of the 360 view that can be
and you’ll come across old cemeteries, gardens, churches and landmarks
This was a bustling market in the 15th century until
Every Scot will tell you this is something you have
this place is about a 20 minute walk and century’s
This cathedral was originally a roman catholic church until the
Ireland
I accidentally gave this woman antlers when taking a photo
Folks here don’t take shit from nobody! I’d like to
pre-soccer game fuel up…every pub packed with all manner of
Where old meets new….and you have to guess what old
crispy bacon and brie cheese on sourdough baguette with mango
I’m sitting across from my hotel watching people pour into
Quay Street in the Latin Quarter, spiritual home to traditional
how’s this for atmosphere when having a cuppa?
this riverwalk leads to Galway’s prestigious university which was built
where one of the specialties is a sundae with chocolate
Remember when John Wayne shouts this out when he enters
This popular pub faces the sea and over it’s door
sandwiches at Dublin pubs like this one- an open Irish
this gate is one of many on a roadside that
Belgium
I thought it would be fun to stay in an
consequently this Ezelport is one of four remaining medieval city
After the original one burned to the ground, apparently the
This city, while a little touristy, is one of the
You can cruise down the Damse Vaart ( a canal
This was established as a residence for emancipated women who
Also known as lover’s lake, this large park is right
My Airbnb host turned me on to Lizzies’ who runs
One can not mention Bruges – or Belgium for that
one of the many cute little alleys you can walk
this alley is so narrow your hands can touch both
This canal passes through Bonifacijus Bridge which is right behind
I was planning to travel to Ghent on the day
Figurines of saints are tucked away in the corners of
Dinant is close to the southern border of France and
This rivers runs through the center of Dinant and a
France
“She must have enough spirit to be able to praise
After Mr. Pommery died, his wife took over and established
His house is a cheerful setting, the garden a happy
I was taking a picture of the Rue Musette when
This park is directly across from the train station in
As a good friend says, it’s important to move forward
This bakery was my breakfast stop each morning and because
This abbey has one of the most spectacular interiors I’ve
Dijon Central -where the Moons and Junes and Ferris Wheels
I noticed more homeless people in Dijon than I had
I want to be Steve Coogan or Rob Brydon in
During a walking tour of Montmartre, our guide pointed out
one of the major draws of Chateaunew en Auxons is
cafes are a way of life in Europe and my
Africa
Kenneth is an incredible tracker with an easygoing, personable style
The drive from Nairobi to Massi Mara takes about 7-8
Mara is the Maassi word for spotted and the name
Every day at around noon Kenneth would find a tree
I stayed at the Sopa Lodge which has a large
These guys are part of the Big Five ( criteria
Besides being the tallest mammal on earth, no two giraffes
I love how this little guy walks under his mother
Everybody sing along! “look there daddy don’t you see…there’s a
they’re the only cats who hang out in groups –
Male gazelles fight each other to claim ownership of a
This guy had so much personality! He was discovered in
watching these animals walk single file across the plain and
Kenneth told me that no good safari is complete without
I think it was Christian Dior but at least one
tried to join the dance but lacked the rhythm…..style….and…looks…. This
One of the chief’s two wives and two of his
While the lion didn’t seem to be too happy about
this family was at a distance when we first spotted
Fortunately a niece and her mother ( my sister) reminded
I couldn’t have lucked out more with my assignment to
This is a photo from my vantage point ( the
He’s the patriarch of the family called Mtukiza that our
An escort with a gun leads the expedition and another
Baboons like to hang along the side of the road
Chimps share 98.7 DNA of humans! When you arrive at
As mentioned, we had an exceptional guide who was able
I am dazzled by the noise and color, the smells
Although she doesn’t look too happy about it, I had
We stopped at a stand selling fresh pineapple to snack
Best way to sell product is to show how much
I had my first bout of “stomach issues” in Uganda
The very poor earn a living by cutting into the
Benny was my third and final guide. And the adage
A family usually consists of one silverback, about 3-6 females
as the male offspring grow up, the strongest of them
This was the patriarch of the family our guides tracked
can you see those gazelles these cubs are checking out
this is one of the watering holes where we parked
this one walked by nonchalantly while we were eating lunch.
There are hundreds of baboons who hang out at the
what all species seem to have in common….a quick nap
Benny thought this lioness had just had a big lunch
Benny got us upgraded to a luxury camp and our
Gazelles fight each other for the sole position of managing
….these elegant animals were used in ancient Arabic and Persian
as soon as “mom” is assured that her cubs have
We found these two lionesses not too far from where
The oldest female is matriarch and the herd walks in
Elephants have the largest brain of any land animal and
we watched this elephant break from the herd for a
the crater is one place animals don’t migrate away from
Lush plains are punctured by giraffe’s patchwork heads as they
you see them together all the time – Benny tells
this young male popped up out of bush just a
a single leader controls animals living in social groups and
you can’t get too close with a camera and mine
they kept their distance but this is what they do
Tanzania’s Ngorongoro crater is thought to have formed about 2.5
of the animal species in Africa, zebras are so common
When we came upon a total of 9 cubs hanging
boa constrictors are ambush predators preferring to sit and wait
Greece
directly above the charming neighborhood of Plaka, Anafiotika is comprised
As bicycles are to the Netherlands, and parks to England,
Social, religious, and commerce activities were conducted here along with
This bakery served all the traditional Greek pastries and I
this was one of the more popular streets in Athen’s
This well preserved temple sits at the top of the
A is for Athens has a highly touted rooftop bar
Built during the height of the Greek civilization to honor
a series of these original statues were mounted against a
Pyrgos still has some of the vestiges of old Santorini
this front porch and adjacent hot tub was the best
Pyros village is situated on the highest peak of the
volcanic lava preserved the 4,000 year old town of Akrotiri
strolling around the old town’s maze-like alleys with beautiful Venetian
I arrived at this sea front cafe at about 4ish
while the simple answer to any request is always a
August is not the time to come to Greece –
At around 6ish the plazas come to life and don’t
The “kafenion” or coffee shop used to be an all
made me wonder what the inside of these places looked
where the sand was as pink as my face once
Cafes generally run down both sides of a tiny street
still trying to figure this one out…..Elafonissi Beach, which is
After coming back from a beach so popular you had
Spain
I was there for annual street festival when local residents
The streets in the Gracia neighborhood are small, narrow, and
Eusebi Guell, a wealthy and prominent business man became a
The interior of this home looks like it was inspired
Gaudi believed in the importance of maintaining connection to nature
When it failed as a residential setting, Gaudi turned it
This neighborhood dates back over 2000 years ago when the
The streets in Gracia are lined with storefronts displaying all
This is like paella but instead of rice, it’s served
The wonderful thing about tapas is that they’re small bites
This little girl was with Dad who apparently paid a
Considered Gaudi’s masterpiece, I defy anyone to enter and not
While I’m having lunch at a cafe, this giant lion
There are several bars in San Sebastian that specialize is
The palace was a summer home for Spanish royalty who
in Spain and Portugal they prepare fish by grilling it
These guys could be found right outside a restaurant on
There’s a great restaurant called the May Flower right on
That lobster you see was still moving when I took
bordering San Sebastian’s Gros neighborhood, this beach’s waves attract both
The festival goes for a full week starting mid August
they lead the parade with giants and big heads in
I’m trying to imagine how many big heads put kids
this gastronomic destination is an adorable, basque seaport with historic
At this particular market, just around the corner from my
Watching these little girls on their own reminded me of
The old castle was built on the highest point in
an early morning walk along the sea walls while the
probably the only place you’ll find shops like this that
This was a royal garden until donated to the city
these beauties are situated throughout the park and not a
constructed in 1929 for the Ibero-American Exposition to showcase Spain’s
located within the Parque de Maria Luisa, it’s a blending
this is such a beautiful city – probably my favorite
right next to the Plaza del Triunto where the Real
I had some of the best food here. My airbnb
it seemed like tapas had their own distinct style in
I love how the streets come alive during the evening
This is the 3rd largest cathedral in the world and
it’s a climb up a narrow stairway to the top
and apparently a lesson in anatomy….
one of the wonderful ways Europe’s cities announce time is
I started this trip with the hope I might find
The spanish elites distained flamingo during the 19th and 20th
This was designed for the Ibero American exhibition of 1929
tis a place to put on bucket list me thinks.
it was very smoky in Granada when I was there
He built this palace when he moved the royal houses
Granada was established at the time the Moors ruled so
I have always had this unfulfilled desire to be a
You can get an infusion for a cold – a
there’s definitely something to be said about Spanish eyes…..
one of the things I found helpful was a free
this is a common sight- a solo guitar player practicing
This guy sat next to me in a moroccan restaurant
I really love the statue of St. Sebastian perched on
this delectible treat consisted of a unique kind of spanish
crunch with me now….the freshest fish fried in a light
The Arabic word alhamra means red castle and this site
I’ve been told that women who wear black lead colorful
toasted auburn, treacle, mauve, hay, chartreuse, cream, peach, burnt rose,
generally pintxos are smaller than a tapa and pierced to
here comes the sun…..do be do dah….the palace was built
BTW that wall in the background was built by some
Can you imagine what someone like Trump would do to
There have been occasions when I want to rip into
Portugal
some of my besties from a cafe around the corner
taken from the top of highest hill in Porto and
I thought these angels on a cathedral in this small
This area borders the Rio Douro and is listed as
Time’s winged chariot seems to be hurrying near….at least his
This area is considered the birthplace of port at around
this is a portuguese liqueur made by infusing sour cherries
our city guide told us that these decorations were left
It’s said that the Faro singer who has you leaving
Faro is a type of song that is very popular
While I was supposed to be listening to our tour
The square and surrounding buildings were re-built after a devastating
I don’t know why I have so few pictures of
My airbnb host told me about this small family owned
Located in Lagos, this little beach has rock formations you
You take a ferry to an island where Praia de
One street over is the main boulevard lined with cafes
That’s Charley – chief “griller” at Mullens – known for
This guy makes bagels and claims the t-shirt is a
located on the riverfront and perfect for those days when
I was so tempted to buy a few of these
this divine setting with great food was established by a
there’s a song with lyrics that include “heaven is a
It’s a specialty here and this chef’s main claim to
There’s an alley in Alhambra with photos dedicated to these
dryers are too expensive thus hanging clothes becomes a colorful
Italy
one of 40 varieties of pizza on just one menu
This restaurant was less than a ten minute walk from
The landscape of Tuscany is pretty special. The apartment I
the light at various times of the day made the
These colorful flags hang from windows in the alleys of
This is Casa San Giacomo in Ostuni where the “material
This place lights up like a jewel box in the
I love how historic spaces have turned into gathering places
Our guide told us that a city’s church functioned as
The cathedral has the most beautiful inlaid marble mosaic floors.
The striking black and white stripes on the interior’s pillars
This town is at the top of a very steep
Tuscany’s small towns ooze charm – every alley seems to
this is one of the oldest wineries in Italy and
I signed up for a wine tasting tour and met
doesn’t get much better than under the Tuscan sun!
she’s got the right philosophy – my kind of prophet!
an Italian’s version of staples.
This little town could be the region’s glamour girl. Visually
this place also had an old italian bakery run by
Pecorino di Pienza is one of the oldest sheep cheeses
and the names these gals put on their hats indicate
it’s not unusual to look up and see a woman
This bar is perched on very steep stairs that have
wine tasting in the playpen where toddlers have hairy legs
This woman was priceless. They knew they made a great
this street went on for miles – and was stuffed
all dressed up AND a place to go….
…try navigating that with google maps! And restaurant entries were
This restaurant is owned by my airbnb host’s best friend.
the streets in Ostuni pass houses that usually have an
very, very safe to walk around this place at night
Fresh, local produce and seafood, artisanal meat, cheese, olive oil,
During the plague, infected houses were whitewashed. People began to
this is the outdoor area to a restaurant which is
because the homes are uniformly whitewashed people express their individuality
the next time you’re having a bad day think of
Old town has plenty of staircases and alleyways where curiosity
Imagine being executed for the entertainment of others. And these
Cages were built to hold bears, leopards, bulls, alligators, and
Mock land and naval battles were staged using prisoners as
It’s not hard to imagine what kind of man Ippolito
the water gushing from the fountains comes from the River
The Swiss Guard is comprised of 135 men who protect
When d’Este arrived in Tivoli as the new governor, he
think I just found something better than a squirt gun.
The Vatican is the smallest country in the world with
where Michelangelo and other artists would hang out all day
wish I could tell you why I was fascinated with
because I’m spending way too much time giving these statues
These busts are located in the Chiaramonti Gallery of the
Originally a market place, the Forum became the center of
It’s almost 250,000 square feet and can hold 60,000 people
The clergy through the leadership of Pope Innocent in 15th
In addition to Villa d’ Estate, Tivoli has another palace,
It appeals to the imagination as it also includes a
Although Villa d’Estate is incredible with every room’s walls and
Located in Vatican City, the universal headquarters of the Catholic
the eyes have it…
The most beautiful parts of the piazza are its three
Slovenia
In Ljubljana’s central market you can get fresh milk from
there are tons of cafes from which to view the
The central market, along with practically everything else, was designed
Butchers used to sell their meats from this location. It’s
The focal point of Liubljanica’s central square is a pink
Slovenia has been ruled by numerous countries before achieving independence
“If you ever looked at me once with what I
There are 4 creepy statues representing Greek mythology on Butcher’s
this central market is open from 7am to 1pm every
This is right next to the riverside market building designed
You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry. Don’t
definitely the healthy pasta option and a case for why
no one could tell me about origin of these posts
how about some stroganoff with your choice of fresh mushrooms?
Dumplings are a Slovenian specialty – they’re home made with
It’s said that if you don’t take a picture of
why cafes exist. forever and ever amen.
The climb up is steep but benches are strategically and
This place is an event. One of the great things
this little number made my heart sing. That’s asparagus picked
“love” had to be this guy’s middle name. He greeted
I took a day trip to see Lake Bohinj, Lake
this is the only way ( aside from swimming) that
Cobbler’s used to be hung off this bridge if they
there’s a little cafe on the island where you can
see that big white hotel in the far left of
In late fall, you can practically have the place all
This is an E ticket Disney ride – it’s gorgeous
another commonality among countries – buddies enjoying each other during
it would be mandatory to serve mushroom soup in a
My airbnb was about a 25 minute walk from Ljubljana
this is only made in Slovenia and a highly recommended
first place I’ve seen this since New York!
Meet poet France Preserven for whom the square is named
A railway built about 140 years ago allows you to
playful and distinctive, the buildings in Ljubljana look like giant
move over Disney – the “real” stuff is so much
standing on a hill above the city for over 900
stunning rural landscape cultivated for thousands of years by farmers
This restaurant is called Spica and was started by a
next time you think you’re carrying the weight of the
storefront in Ljubljana. Life in full bloom.
Croatia
Split’s version of a Starbucks….how did this become a thing??
love the thousands of colors on the parched landscape of
this was built as a retirement home for a slave
that’s the bishop in background – when the catholic church
peka style – which involves cooking some seafood or meat
this series of shops and cafes borders the harbor in
I met these guys in this little bar down an
A day trip from Split, this water logged cave was
another day trip from Split – this island gets all
these gentlemen were having a great long lunch on a
all this shop contained was barrels of every kind of
this is an important ancient Roman city at the foot
wonderful, beautiful, historic medieval town – considered one of the
our guide gave us free time to “get lost in
this was one of those places where every turn along
this fortress has spectacular views of Split’s landscape and an
while sitting in cafes I started to play a game
they’re everywhere because they have it pretty easy here –
one of the beautiful beaches near this coastal city. It’s
walking these walls is a must do here – and
this is like a thing here. People mark their day
the bright red tiles mark the roofs that were damaged
lots of charming cafes for breakfast within old town Dubrovnik-
this woman was so big she couldn’t get through the
these guys protruded out of stone walls of Dubrovnik’s castle….just
my airbnb was about a 15 minute walk along the
The city’s brass apparently actively pitches the city as a
Caught this woman taking a picture of her ice cream
this is the largest natural pool on the island which
the branches looked like human flesh to me – really
The island is said to be cursed. After a major
all it needed was Tom Cruise as its bartender to
spaces like this are carved out on Lokrum Island so
they were originally brought over from the canary islands by
my airbnb host recommended a restaurant that was situated across
happiness and gaiety seem to be contagious at a wedding
I crashed the party and desperately tried to take a
sixteen stunning upper and lower lakes are interconnected by cascades
I was told that the Plitvice Lakes were sunny and
and a thousand violins begin to play……
Turkey
Istanbul is a predominantly Muslim City where religion considers cats
As mentioned, cats are considered sacred in Istanbul but don’t
This area was my favorite part of Istanbul – colorful,
while listening to the daily calls for prayer….it doesn’t get
yep – that’s what they call these fruit stands –
I think if I were half my age, I’d collect
thought his outfit was as colorful as his produce!
this lamb stewed with a combination of raisins, figs, apricots,
While cats seem common everywhere in many countries, there’ not
Hadn’t seen this since I left Africa but roasted corn
I am told that when coffee bean prices skyrocketed during
I was yelled at for being disrespectful after taking this
I saw this guy and asked for permission to take
This heavily spiced meat is slowly cooked on a vertical
These guys were trying to take a selfie with little
This is a modest shop with a rug maker in
a string of odd shaped lights and lamps in various
This little guy jumped up to sit next to me
Originally built as a church it became a mosque when
a brilliant example of Byzantine architecture and art -figuratively and
I’m betting this woman was going for matchy-matchy
This is reputed to be the biggest mosque in the
Apparently this was discovered when a French explorer watched locals
This is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that
this guy spun serenely in his felt hat and white
From the 1460’s to the completion of Dolmabahce Palace in
In Istanbul the men are aggressively on the take. You
There were a couple of places I scheduled into the
The Ozturk family bought this home in the 30’s and
“Each of us is a story, waiting for a devoted
The largest excavated underground city in the world, it was
These especially designed glass ornaments are thought to ward off
Instead of packaged crap sold at most vender stalls outside
In the hot arid desert climate, caves like these dug
Kocabag is one of two most well known wines in
Amazing and otherworldly! These landscape spires look like something out
the rock formations are phallic shapes which is how the
all the employees gather each morning for a spread like
I watched one person mount and dismount this little beastie
one of the thrills of visiting a country with a
This rock formation is just north of Urgup’s fairy chimneys
This woman runs Judy and John’s airbnb and makes a
this home is simply beautiful – and famous! It was
Our guide for the Goreme Open Air Museum shouted out
this church is well preserved with murals covering two stories
Also known as the open palace as several cave churches
at the height of summer, a glut of aubergines and
a pot containing bread dough, meat and vegetables is sealed
that’s Judy with one of the women who helps with
Ermine’s gifts were not relegated to the kitchen – here
old traditional homes are being turned into boutique cave hotels
the domes of these homes were whittled by water and
Cappadocia means “Land of Beautiful Horses” in Persian. There are
legend has it that the beautiful daughter of a king
of all manner of vegetables. When winter comes, these will
cave dwellers dug out homes in the rock which included
desert inhabitants take all shapes….while there are tons of rock
bronze aged homes carved into valley walls which were later
romantic table settings surrounded by lush greenery and beautiful plant
this headdress and gown must be a traditional one as
built to honor Roman emperor Hadian, it is the only
this is got to be a tough way to make
called Doner – made from tightly packed meat roasted on
I think the Turkish symbol of moon and star (
Antayla’s old roman harbor is known for its seafood restaurants
called midye dolma – mussels are stuffed with rice, pine
Turkey is famous for its herbal teas such as a
this sandwich of flaky butter crust holding a mixture of
Luna Gardens is a beautiful, big open air restaurant in
Founded in 10th century BC , paved streets pass squares,
nine lives….nuff said
relieving one’s self was a social function back in the
one of the speculations about the origins of Ephesus is
built to honor Artemis, goddess of the hunt, wilderness, moon
this is a portion of the facade to city’s library;
one of the remaining 700 inhabitants of Sirince Village which
Sirince village is known for its fruit wines…these two men
to take with me on the yellow brick road. Ahhhh…the
do you believe in magic?
the alleys of local markets are filled with product displays
nature’s colors are the best!!!! This makes me wish I
high in vitamin C and thought to prevent dementia, the
it’s admittedly a sign of something and I’m not quite
tea is served in a tulip shaped glass with a
its ancient amphitheater was massive and had the capacity to
Edible adornments- a concept about to be hung out to
an example of the bountiful yields of Sirince Village’s nearby
He’s an entrepreneur and she’s responsible for what’s considered the
Israel
This tree growing from a hanging pot is the artists
This trendy neighborhood was the first built outside of the
This market was about a minute walk from my airbnb
if you are what you eat, I prefer to be
A Friday right before Shabbat is lively- the cafes are
and when you do, head to Levinsky Market – one
It’s surreal – the whole city sort of shuts down
these are called dove cots – little niches carved in
Built by Herold, King of Judah, as his winter palace
way down there in some caves the dead sea scrolls
Colorful, creative, and smart art covers the city’s walls and
It is here that Peter is supposed to have had
Lots of intrigue in these Biblical accounts! Ethiopia’s Queen of
this is the baptismal site where Israelites crossed from Jordan
Capernaum was a fish market and major frontier post by
Jesus left Nazareth to live here and teach in the
This was the site of the Sermon on the Mount,
I forget what our guide told us was the real
Our guide told us that this river is mentioned 180
This was built in Bethlehem at the site where scholars
To get inside you enter through what is called the
Thank goodness the interior is beautiful because you have about
this is in the area where the announcement of Jesus
Another common universal – sharing gossip with good friends. As
kind of fun to compare the cultures by what they
while wandering around the alleys of Jerusalem’s old city, I
I watched this kid for a little while because he
it’s a bit jarring to see shops with Christmas decorations
It began as a fortified Canaanite city in the days
This was built in the 4th century by Emperor Constantine
a maze of narrow alleys winds through an ancient street
This is where the famous Church of the Holy Sepulchre
David’s tomb, the location of the Last Supper, and Dormicion
the smallest of the four quarters, it is not dedicated
Located in the Christian quarter of Old City Jerusalem, this
napping from boredom, deep in thought or experiencing a religious
as mentioned somewhere in this blog, while women are relegated
all ages and genders welcome as long as you keep
While the men a few feet away from them read
in the men’s section the boys and men wear elaborate
The wailing wall is split into two sections – one
I admit it was intrusive of me to take pictures
The wailing wall stems from a Jewish practice of coming
The banter and pitches of the market vendors comes together
In addition to picking up fresh, out of this world
Colors come from all sides to surround you – vibrant
Bustling shoppers, market stall vendors shouting their sales pitches, pungent
Opening in 1920, Carmel market is the largest one in
This is the lowest spot on earth and shrinking about
“Enter until you can squat, then lie back gently, do
Jordan
….the woman, the myth, the legend.
I love the lip service this guy gives. They used
Bedouins saunter past the columns and carriageway of Colonnade Street
this little stand sits precariously on rocks at the height
I arrived in the early morning to see this masterpiece
I’d love to know the back story on this dog
this is the last length of the friggen trail that
Carved out of rock, that spine tingling moment when you
in 1812 a Scottish explorer dressed as an Arab convinced
do I look like I’m clenching my teeth? That’s because
Petra was a major trading center for Arabia, Mesopotamia, Egypt,
On the Street of Facades is the theatre, a semi
I like to think that the ancestors of Petra’s original
Petra was a major caravan center established in the 3rd
stray dogs hang out in Petra as though they own
You enter Petra through a Sig – a narrow gorge
Hard to believe but this guy has been a tour
best way to see the desert is on a 4X4
as Betty Davis said – fasten your seat belts –
Well it’s not your average 7 Eleven but desert tents
A contemporary version of Arabian Nights came to life with
this is the Segreta Beach Club in Aqaba – a
am I tipping my hand – but why aren’t there
The one heartbreaking element of the extraordinary experience of Petra
Most tours in the desert begin with a safety briefing
Petra’s Colonnaded Street still functions as a market place where
Ad Deir Monastery – worth the jeep ramble over rocky
so hard to believe this was completed thousands of years
Egypt
With the body of a lion and head of a
talk about your chuck wagon!! On the way into the
This wise guide ( or is that guy?!) was a
The largest of the pyramids is 482 feet high and
I lucked out again when I was teamed with this
I was the only one that had signed up for
Camel rides are available in the desert surrounding the great
this picture was taken from the vantage point of my
the alley that leads to the seafood restaurant is lined
my favorite site in Alexandria – this is a wealthy
I often found myself being trailed by Egyptian children who,
This temple was built to honor Serapus – protector of
The Great Hypostyle Hall consists of 16 rows of 134
the entrance into the temple is flanked with shapes of
Over 30 pharaohs contributed to its construction over a period
hallways that lead to separate temples are flanked by guards
Karnak which means Most Selected Place is the largest temple
The was an approximate 5 mile avenue linking Luxor with
This is a statue of King Tutankhamun ( Tut) age
That’s Ramses II again – with the moon casting a
some paintings contain warnings about curses and injuries to potential
wall paintings within the tombs depict pictures of family members
The burial tombs of 30 plus pharaohs are located here
After Hatshepsut died, the stepson Thutmose III had nearly all
Hatshepsut ( pronounced like “hot chicken soup”) was married to
She was the second female pharaoh confirmed and considered one
Before the great damn was built ( with help from
Commonly depicted as a falcon headed god, Horace battles Seth
The god Oris was killed by his evil brother Seth
I was told by my guide that little boys like
This temple is divided into two parts – the southern
as another temple slated for drowning with the building of
It’s one of the last ancient Egyptian temples to survive
This temple was built in 690 BC to honor Isis,
The 20 of us booked for this Nile cruise were
During the Nile cruise the chef prepared an authentic Egyptian
A felucca is a traditional wooden sail boat used by
In a remarkable feat of engineering, the temple complex was
built by Ramses II to intimidate his enemies and seat
Engineered so that light from the sun goes through the
it was constructed as a place for people to worship
Ramses favorite wife and great love was Nefertari who was
the view of Philae temple from the Solain restaurant on
I thought it would be fun to stay at a
it was originally one of the largest and most significant
The Taliban requires women to wear a burqa so as
Thailand
There are 4 sections – an outer court, central court,
after the fall of the Ayutthaya kingdom to the Burmese,
This has been the official residence of the Kings of
Because it served to educate, among the temples are granite
This is one of three major sites that are a
From Wat Pho you cross to the other side of
no one knows for certain how the Buddha head became
First stop of Ayutthaya temple tours is this reclining buddha
although most of the 41 ancient temples are dilapidated, walking
one of the large buddhas at the “King’s temple” in
Also known as the Temple of Dawn, this place is
Right off the Chao Phraya River in the historic part
Ranked #4 of ten top flower markets in the world,
Known as one of the best places for street food,
Originally established by Chinese immigrants in 1782, it’s now one
the seller’s throne!
one of the wonderful and unique sights of Chinatown in
Elephant spines cannot support the weight of people and if
one of 41 temples on an island ringed by rivers
on the other side of the public market, waterways meander
as was done thousands of years ago, farmers peddle produce
Most of the activity at this one takes place above
This floating market is considered a little touristy with entertainers
my guide told me that one of the special treats
he met me at the hotel and we drove in
hot grill on a waterway – one of my favorite
my guide put together a menu of what he called
Ben was distracted with phone messages when we started out
this temple is so old that it has literally been
this food market lines up along a railroad track that
tourists are escorted behind an orange line about 5 minutes
this island has the beaches you see photographed in travel
These are the absolute best – the centers of the
On the main beach of Koh Lipe is “walking street”-
Koh Lanta has a relaxed vibe and is more secluded
since there are no cars on this island – just
if you’re looking for fishing villages on stilts and water
I went to this beach on December 26th exactly 18
established in 1296, the old city of Chiang Mai still
this guy registers the happiness I felt while in Chuang
google maps don’t work so well in these old neighborhoods
if you’re looking for a traditional feast, look no more….you
I met a guy in Koh Lipe who told me
Elephant caregivers are called Mahouts and as boys they are
We’ve all heard an elephant never forgets and it’s true
The Lanna kingdom created specific dances used for special occasions
Elephants have the largest brain of any land animal and
Most of the elephants in sanctuaries have been rescued from
Elephants are the symbol of the nation of Thailand and
An elephant eats about 10% of their weight daily and
When we arrived at this particular sanctuary, we were escorted
Several elephant sanctuaries offer a general activity format that provides
they don’t do anything simple here! The exterior of this
felt sort of like we’d been given permission to walk
inside the white temple are murals that depict contemporary manifestations
An artist who grew up in the village of Rong
The center piece of the interior is a shiny white
Designed by the student of the artist who created the
Blue symbolizes purity, wisdom, and lack of materialism which, according
A variety of chopped, fresh fruit comes in a glass
eagles shaped like a penis, a whale house with porthole
this is where three country’s borders merge on the Mekong
This is a Chiang Mai specialty…It’s coconut curry with chicken,
Jim Thompson is a major part of the “fabric” of
This colonial style home with vines climbing up its sides
this happy soul provides garlands to offer the Buddha inside
I was taking pictures of people preparing for a parade
last night in Thailand before leaving for Laos. That’s the
After taking several pictures of this woman’s product and her
Don Hoi Lot is a system of mudflats where you
yep – that’s frog on a stick. My guide dared
Thawan Duchance was born in 1939 and became a successful
this is a night market that take place on weekends
I thought this looked like an Asian vegetable version of
at the night market store fronts like this one are
I’ve forgotten his name but he was a warrior king
also known as Wat Rong Suea Ten or Temple of
This guy sits in front of the first warning about
Ronald goes Buddhist in Chiang Mae
if this is how a statue depicts a model soldier,
Laos
I took a traditional slow boat from Thailand to Laos
When you’re taking a slow boat, great coffee in the
this little girl and her “charge” trailed our small group
The self contained village we visited was home to approximately
so sweet! I smiled at her and this is the
this adorable trio couldn’t speak English but that didn’t hinder
This boy was guarding what looked like a kitchen garden
She probably manages a home with two rooms used as
the cool kids – every tribe has them. They are
Every home has a small vegetable garden which may also
The first stop on the boat tour was this home
From the Mekong River we climbed a steep path to
these two children were perched on the stairway to the
another stop on the Mekong River includes Pak Ou Caves
our vessel for travel on the river to Laos was
one of the stops on the Mekong river cruise includes
this seems universal – ask some kids if you can
another commonality among cultures- a woman’s love for her grandchildren….
The patterns woven into rugs are passed down from generation
as mentioned, the main claim to this village is the
this is considered a sacred area and located directly across
this practice really bummed me out. Tiny sparrows are captured
The several temples on main street each have a distinctive
familiar with the feeling of putting on clothes that have
working like a…well….dog. I shared a laugh with a monk
most temples have some sort of version of this demon
my favorite temple – filled with hundreds of beautiful gold
sad to realize that all I could think of when
I like to think that whoever constructed this fence was
looks like this guy got stuck with baby sitting while
colorful restaurants like this line the main street of Laos’s
Hundreds of tables populate the sidewalks for the purpose of
I don’t know what these women were advertising but a
all the back lanes and alleys have makeshift kitchens where
After the monks have departed, you have the option of
the daily morning market in Luang Prabang starts at sunrise
located on two long and narrow alleys off the backstreets
I thought I was doing a great job of uncover
kicked off my day with the ritual of my morning
Produce comes from the surrounding jungles, local farms and the
In addition to miniature mountains of fresh produce, just caught
right next to these rice steamers were a variety of
Many women had their kids with them while selling their
There’s a small market right outside the gates of the
the food prepared in restaurants is so fresh here that
view from the street that edges along the Mekong River
apparently former president Obama had walked the river front as
another universal – men and their grills!
one of the best ways to experience Luang Prabang is
As a fun coincidence, a Dutch couple from Utrecht on
Hanoi vodka, dragon fruit, lime, and grenadine….definitely grabs you.
This place sits atop the banks of the Mekong River
Silk has been cultivated and woven in Laos for over
Rice farming is a way of life in Southeast Asia
one of the many activities demonstrated for the harvesting of
Making rice is a complex endeavor involving both human and
then your face will surely show it…! she’s demonstrating how
planting involves pushing a group of seedlings in the mud
getting in the paddy is challenging enough as it’s about
I loved this guy – he makes all kinds of
This is a small, charming, organic community farm with ancient
The Luang Prabang night market is located near the Royal
one of the highlights of the night market are the
I got a kick out these two who were selling
Long night for kids when mom is a vendor at
cups and cups of colorful goodness blended with shaved ice.
they are considered nature’s the most beautiful masterpiece in the
water flows over limestone rocks from upper springs to come
the average lifespan of butterflies is only 2-4 weeks!
A member of the Dutch team that founded the park
Just about 300 meters down from the falls, is a
I thought the vibrant green of these paddies was so
plenty of rice paddies to view while taking backroads in
The top of a coconut is chopped off with a
of all the temples, my favorite was Vat Viscoun -the
Hundreds of monks take part in the tradition of almsgiving
Two bamboo bridges cross the river from Luang Prabang to
this term refers to a “happy place” in Laos –
When you order a dish “Laos spicy” it will come
grilled bananas are taken like drugs to enhance heart health,
available every day at the morning market…so fresh, they’re still
Congee – rice porridge with a little sausage mixed throughout
Cambodia
I was on a tour with 5 other people when
you have to pass through two major gates to enter
on each side of the road that leads you to
Raiders of the Tomb – one of those Laura Croft
hard to believe a seedling established itself and carefully grew
these roots seemed like arms holding the walls to keep
This was one of many models who made an appearance
a portion of the temple was being used as a
I’m guessing being a monk wasn’t entirely his idea
it’s still used as a place of worship with several
a moat used to surround the entire complex of Angkor
Given the upheaval in Cambodia’s history – particularly in the
Only the most beautiful woman were allowed to become dancers
making certain parties feel entitled to a seat at the
Vietnam
He greeted me at the hotel and said we had
Hanoi’s streets used to be named to identify the goods
I am in awe of what can be artistically arranged
a coffee shop usually consists of a series of tables
one component of cafe culture is the consuming of sunflower
the sidewalks function as cafes and seating areas and with
Kendra’s friend Son, was born in Vietnam and recommended Caw
There are 9 million people in Hanoi and 13 million
a healthy alternative to my regular go to snack of
wonder where they get the produce and how much they
I was sitting at a cafe having delicious Vietnamese coffee
rows of chickens perfectly displayed with their detailed faces complete
Hanoi is comprised of back streets and a labyrinth of
Formal china is placed on a plastic table top for
food preparation like this would never pass muster in the
isn’t this just a gorgeous spread of beautiful bounty??
she and others like her don’t walk – they do
thousands of women in North Vietnam migrate to Hanoi to
imagine people transporting goods with a dancer’s gait; people waving
this guy weaved through the busy street without dropping goods
The streets of Hanoi’s old quarter are filled with peddlers
a grandmother is with her daughter and two grandchildren at
it seems like a simple dish but authentic pho is
It was conceived in Hanoi when buffalo meat became too
The temple located here is considered one of Hanoi’s most
This temple was built in 1070 and is dedicated to
The museum is deeply moving because it allows the victims
located in Ho Chi Minh City, this place is a
While the Vietnamese were occupied by the French, barbaric cells
I was here during the lunar new year where most
this is considered one of the 7th natural wonders of
three self sufficient floating villages are tucked away in Halong
as if by cue, an awe inspiring hush falls on
one of the meditation areas which overlooks a courtyard surrounded
temples, ancient residences, and gardens are sheltered and protected by
he was Vietnam’s first emperor and made Ninh Binh valley
colorful lanterns hang from trees to direct you to the
best way to experience these watery pathways is by canoe
these randomly pop up on the river contributing to a
there are mile long caves ( or maybe it only
boats zig zag a river of curves through incredible foliage
The Red River Delta scurries through mossy pagodas and limestone
this is a real dog and restaurant owner’s pride. She
or should I say “star” trek guide as this woman
she’s the ring leader – a natural at bringing the
look at these people’s teeth! So healthy irrespective of little
she’s the look out…can spot a deep pocket a mile
she was co-partner in crime with the shrewd business one
she was a favorite – I met her in the
okay… here come a series of portraits of my besties
coy and cute!
She’s a great advertisement for whatever she’s eating!
these children always remind me that you don’t need much
while we passed through villages you’d see all kinds of
February 4th 2023 – eve of the day I turn
there’s something endearing about these women – they have probably
when you sit at a restaurant in a local village,
This mom carried baby and produce up steep hills to
Sapa guide in training
typical street scene in Sapa
The trek guides signal to each other when they think
these women volunteer to help guide you to their towns
this German woman was my age – 69 – when
the best way to see Sapa is by trekking the
this was a central hub and meeting place for transportation
the red hat signifies what tribe they belong to –
these three dames were not happy to have their photo
these are radishes believe it or not, and I was
if you haven’t guessed by now, I’m crazy about the
these colorful head scarfs identify what tribe a person belongs
women from the hill tribes come to market every day
this couple was so cute – they were having a
Women carrying two baskets balanced by a pole on their
they act like teens anywhere – heartwarming to watch the
wandering Hanoi’s old quarter is one of the most fun
some of the trees and buildings in Hanoi’s old town
Sapa’s market is the town’s center for family hangouts, hill
It’s quite an interesting scene in Cat Cat village on
you can be sure this isn’t their first rodeo…these delightful
you just know that a couple who spends this much
pathways meander through stalls where local H’mong tribe members sell
this place is like a bag of Lays potato chips
remember when you used to play dress up as a
couples old and young were present in full attire. I
think I spotted about three or four different tribes this
would have liked to wrap these little cherubs up and
this one was a real beauty – so wish I
wonder what this pensive one is thinking….whether to use her
that’s angel, babe, bunny, and tomato…displaying a rich splendor of
there’s that universal peace sign again – usually offered by
I may have gotten a little carried away with the
a fine example of inner-outer beauty.
a river cuts through Cat Cat Village from the Tien
every girl deserves to have her dreams come true….
Her older brother, mother and father were also decked out
he’s cooking up my delicious 70th birthday lunch!
best new sport in town. You hang a fishing pole
is it me or is that one in far back
yep – exactly what it is….snakes soaked in a herbal
In general, Vietnamese people are thin and small so bridges
After you are served an eight course lunch in the
I’ve been looking for commonalities among cultures and think I
so our agile guide dares our small group to follow
this motor boat takes you down the Tien River to
one of the largest and most famous in southern Vietnam.
I had escaped the crowds and found a quiet courtyard
another buddha in front of the Vinh Trang Pagoda –
the laughing buddha is a symbol of prosperity, contentment, and
We stopped for a break at this gas station on
this guy is right behind the Vinh Trang Pagoda –
I like their version of one!
this is a famous market in downtown Saigon – and
We arrived in time to listen to the beautiful chanting
this food market was right next to the Ho Thi
and there’s no flies anywhere! Go figure!
well – if you were managing a stall in a
Vietnamese people are known for their ability to nap almost
part of the central coastal area of Vietnam. Most of
This guy is a bus driver in Massachusetts, a card
the island is covered in dense tropical forest – and
she was a student earning her way through university as
if you’re “long”ing for miles of white, soft, sand –
Vietnamese pancake…I actually made this one with a little help
it’s the largest one in Vietnam – it spreads out
India
This guy took me to some of the key sites
Wine is hard to come by in India – you
Ghandi’s home has been turned into a very impressive museum…
mothers rub this under their baby’s eyes because they believe
move over Trump – this guy owns orange in a
The roads are too narrow for large trucks so large
Cars are too expensive for the average person so a
Chandi Chowk is one of the oldest and busiest markets
Chandani Chowk is a hub for the latest fashion, jewelry,
This is the heart of Old Delhi and a feast
you need 4 things to drive in India – a
Chandi Chowk is near the Red Fort and was designed
This guy seemed so intent on making flower necklaces that
I saw this in Delhi market and asked my guide
bowls and bowls of every kind of nut imaginable found
I LOVED this place – my guide took me to
Most of the trees have labels so you can educate
This was originally a wooded area where tombs were established
His tomb is much grander than his son’s, Akbar –
This gorgeous city park in Delhi and covers a little
Humayun, while an intelligent man, had a reputation for indecision
This stunning blue octagonal structure is the first tomb you
This guy is cleaning his feet in preparation to enter
People caution you to see this before you visit the
After the Taj Mahal, this was my favorite place in
conservation of these monuments seems to be done in much
a jealous son imprisoned his father in Agra Fort so
In an era marked by invasions, power was symbolized by
While at the Taj Mahal, this group asked me to
As we know, the building symbolized eternal love when it
An interesting phenomenon: people take more pictures of themselves instead
I now know why this is considered one of the
In India the roads ( including the main highways) are
This guy was my driver from Agra to Jaipur –
my driver liked to graze while traveling so we made
The colors of the Holi festival have multiple meanings –
no one is immune to celebration – even the coolest.
I hope to arrive at my death late, in love,
residents of an apartment complex invited me to their party
sweet souls at that!
As Shel Silverstein said, “Draw a crazy picture, write a
Holi is a Hindu festival held in spring and like
all are embraced during Holi Festival and I wish it
Pichkari – a Hindu god used to spray colored water
dancing and singing are part of the festival – and
A role model in real leadership, me thinks! Dad showing
I asked them to pose in front of the just
They wanted to “blend” my colors with water pistols but
that’s what boys are made of!
It’s said that during the festival, the gods turn a
look for the musical – coming soon to your favorite
The energy of the people as they move about in
I arrived in Jaipur on March 6th not knowing anything
an Holi Indian version of the corner of Haight and
these girls got game!
peace be with you my friend!
The story goes that the very colorful Indian god, Lord
Part of the festival includes eagerly awaiting your “prey” and
As I was leaving a hotel’s holi festival for tourists,
This was one of the guys who greets you as
They bus tourists to a courtyard that has a non-Indian
There are guards within the City Palace who stand at
One of the many street entertainers outside the City Palace.
this is probably the most elaborate of Jai Singh’s projects
beauty defined by cultural architecture at its best
this place is mind spinning – it’s a collection of
it’s kind of hard to see them, but there are
Viewed from this overlook, the Zenana (women’s quarters) is the
built with pale yellow and pink sandstone and white marble.
There are two magnificent buildings in the 3rd courtyard. On
These gals are actually employed by the fort to clean
Jaleb Chowk is the main courtyard of the fort which
Amer Fort has four courtyards – the main one –
this man had a story – wish I knew what
This step well was near the beautiful Savitri Temple which
Also called the palace of winds, this place looked like
Street performers pretend to hypnotize a snake into coming out
This palace is a gorgeous piece of ancient architecture –
The streets of Pushkar are lined with shops selling everything
Several guruwaras sit along the market streets in Pushkar as
This guy was one of many vendors pushing carts laden
My guide told me he thought she might be headed
these folks were hanging out at the Pushkar market and
monkeys have also made Pushkar temples their home and seem
Pushkar is also called tirtha-raj which means king of the
Hundreds of temples sit along the shore of Pushkar Lake
Pushkar is a popular weekend getaway for people living in
happy balancing act in Pushkar! The streets of this town
We shared the road with several goat herders like this
this is the guy who drove me to Pushkar and
we couldn’t tour the interior because someone had shelled out
they keep the roads open and easy to navigate by
aren’t they beautiful??!!! – and they are dressed like this
on our drive to Pushkar from Jaipur, we stopped to
another roadside attraction on our way to Pushkar. I was
woman tending goats in country field. When my driver stopped
This was one of the road side stops my driver
I took this of two men sitting in one of
guess which one wants to see his picture on the
my obsession for open market fruit stands continues…..
this was not the first guy I came across taking
the kids need constant grooming….fun to watch this patient exercise
ponds containing sacred water are surrounded by the beautiful walls
The natural springs are captured in 7 tanks which thousands
I was told not to make eye contact or smile
This was one of my favorite places and experiences in
It is believed that Saint Galav spent 100 years here
Monkeys have an especially significant role in Hindu mythology as
it’s an ancient and sacred site for Hindu pilgrims however
This is a Hindu pilgrimage site because of the natural
…they have these miniature gods tucked into walls everywhere so
built in the 1740’s with steps that allowed access to
say what you will – Indians know how to style
This park was created in 2006 to help preserve the
about a 100 feet up on a perpendicular cliff and
a wander in India’s old cities yields beautiful treasures in
can you imagine waking up to these colors? Somewhere over
This place has ancient temples, memorials, and high rock terraces
over the centuries these gardens served as the capital for
the hall of heroes gives tribute to warriors of the
This is the main residence of the former royal family
This white marble cenotaph is a memorial of a son
view of the city from the rooftop of my hotel
home off alley in central, historic Jodhpur
One of the ways to appreciate Jodhpur’s nickname, blue city,
my guide tells me that the government hired artists during
kind of looks like candy land….gingerbread houses ala India style
In India, the color blue is linked with sovereignty and
there are a lot of theories for the collective desire
when you ask the locals why the city is painted
caught returning home after presumably meditating at the temple
she had the look of a gazelle or one of
current generations probably conducting business just as their ancestors did
I just find this beautiful. That’s all.
the market orchestra leader…she was definitely dancing to a tune
what I think I loved about India the most was
classic multi tasker
he’s stringing flowers that will be purchased by those who
these women were taking a break from shopping in the
vegetables are dipped into a chick pea flour batter and
I think these guys have got to be artists –
I think you can divide Indian people into two camps
a walk through the blue city includes sampling local delicacies
neighbors shooting the breeze – a cool one- in blue
the alleys of the 15th century old town of Jodhpur
two babes taking a break on the front steps of
a walk through the blue city of Jodhpur introduces you
while walking the old city’s alleys, I saw this guy
no need for gloves if you’re in to red
a favorite thing to do was wander the old city
speaking of cheeky, inviting grins – these guys could get
this guy was getting green goo plastered all over his
she was the only woman hanging out with the gang
these boys were part of a larger group that stampeded
Mom with child in market area – both are beauties!
this was taken late afternoon as locals begin to arrive
loved the comradery of these guys in the Sardar market
while taking pictures of monkeys at the Mandore gardens, this
A haveli is an historic, centuries old house built in
I was wandering the old city streets when I saw
I took a “village” tour – hoping it would be
this guy sat outside the Mehrangarh Fort but these talented
the market is full of colorful sights and even if
This is the commercial heart of Jodhpur – every evening
coolin’ down when you have a hot commodity for sale
Sardar Market was only about a 5 minute walk from
it’s kind of the central hub in Jodhpur and the
this guy came into the courtyard of my hotel most
they weren’t actually chewing gum but their demeanors were very
tether me to the planet on balloon strings…
the holy trinity of expressions indicating braindead boredom all captured
I’ll bet she’s got a voice to cast spells, charm
We parked for some masala tea and I heard some
at this road side market I was struck by how
I hired a driver to take me from Jodhpur to
because I was kind to the kid who mysteriously appeared
if you need an hour or two to “wake up”
in every country I found one item I had to
counted as one of the largest and 3rd oldest fort
this is a meat sandwich that is dipped in batter
this is referred to as a Jaisalmer pizza ( an
usually includes cows strolling streets!
Jaisalmer’s version of a grocery store
that’s this guy’s job – chipping away at the street
It took me a while to catch on to this
I loved the little warrior tucked into the corner of
this one is of Lord Shiva, a major god of
The new construction carries forward the architectural tradition of carved
more of the stunning Amar Sagar Jain temple – my
Jain temple’s all have incredible carvings adorning the outside walls.
that dried up patch was once water and you can
This temple is in pristine shape and it’s design played
belly up to the bar! Camels apparently can go for
The camel’s coat merges into the desert landscape which makes
The distinguishing features of the Jain philosophy are the beliefs
I wasn’t the only creature who found this place peaceful!
It’s a tourist attraction but on the day I visited,
this memorial was started in the 16th century by the
Like most of the buildings of Jaisalmer, Bada Bagh is
This was my favorite place in Jaisalmer – it literally
Built by a popular and benevolent courtesan named Tilon to
This was a manmade lake for purposes of providing water
considered a sacred animal revered as mother earth by Hindus
The winding streets of the fort contain homes occupied for
Life in the residential areas of Jaisalmer includes town folk
While other young lovers may use gilt edged wedding invitation
these bats hang in the 5 homes that a wealthy
This guy had five sons and built them each a
just outside the fort, along its walls, fruit stands like
My hotel was the prior home of a wealthy family
Unlike other forts in Rajasthan, Jaisalmer’s fort is a “living”
This is the best way to get from Jaisalmer to
my tuk tuk driver recommended this hotel and you know
wonderful restaurant adjacent to Amet Haveli which is a cool
these splendid gardens were laid out between 1710 and 1734
these gardens give you a sense of the lifestyle enjoyed
seems like this guy learned early on to focus just
loved this guy’s set up….
I’ll take a doggie basket…errrr…bag
does it get better? Sunday in the market….
love these markets – in addition to selling goods, they’re
the queen’s beautiful subjects….
loved Jagdish Chowk area and all the fresh produce to
this is what they look like before they are dried….a
“eye candy” also available…there’s a certain type of look some
when you order food in a restaurant you have to
vendors stake out their territory based on what areas get
eating at her desk….
this looks like pasta but it’s actually a candy and
so beautiful – and cheap!! Indian food became a favorite
I spent the better part of the morning in Jagdish
This is a large market in Udaipur which offers large
The level of detail in this place is staggering….like walking
The 76th custodian of the Mewar dynasty still lives here
This pool is in the middle of the City Palace
built on the banks of Lake Pichola, this stunner is
just one of the gorgeous views in Udaipur – city
thought these guys were adorable – covered in cinnamon like
one room of this spice factory was dedicated to the
after the spices have been gleaned, this guy bags them
she’s the ring leader for a group of women who
this spice mill dates back to 15th century and spices
yep – this is the actual name of an area
every place in India has fresh fruit stands loaded with
this enterprising goat had probably seen enough taxi drivers to
the side streets of Kochi host banana carts. That’s my
these guys were great – they were the 7th generation
this is the most delicious light bread – this woman
there were about 20 stalls in this laundry house- each
over an acre of lines with clothes flapping in the
after carpets are washed, they are laid out on grass
there are two main areas to Kochi – the old
These were introduced by Chinese traders in the 13th century
here’s what a stall looks like. After all the fish
these fisherman are real characters – this guy is showing
Kochi became the first European colony in India when the
from on high, the agricultural valleys of Munnar look like
Munnar has plenty of water and damns for irrigation of
The homes on the hills of Munnar are all painted
you must purchase tickets to enter and they limit the
in downtown Munnar there’s this unbelievable vegetable market in a
A lot of the land in Munnar is also used
If not chopped every five years, these tea bushes grow
I was told that all of these estates are owned
and the land rolls out like a lush green carpet.
India is the 2nd largest tea producer in the world
Munnar’s mountains are covered with tea estates and so high
This is called Eco Point and considered one of the
This enterprising guy had saved enough money to buy a
The guide, driver, and I took a jeep up this
this ride comes without guard rails and is not for
She had just climbed up that steep mountain behind her
a couple of men with scales jot down the weight
these are the folks who help make a cup of
this has got to be the most colorful culture on
my guide let me stay here for about 45 minutes
the number of rupees a worker receives is dependent on
years of practice make climbing these steep slopes with a
Bags of tea leaves are brought up from the slopes
only females harvest tea in Munnar and groups of them
this is an approximate 4 -5 hour drive and my
you have to be creative to make a living in
This be the ice man. I met him when I
my driver took me on a meandering route from Alleppey
my driver insisted I try “young” coconut milk the way
naps come easy in this peaceful environment….
that’s my canal guide – we’re having lunch at one
these guys find clams to sell by diving down to
green and lush – when they turn golden, it’s time
You can take an overnight house boat, a private shikara,
a family affair apparently – although the kids didn’t seem
if you wash under the direct rays of the sun,
I liked this woman’s style – it was really hot
Washington reincarnated crossing the Delaware by this resident of Alleppey
this guy was one of a couple canal vendors spotted
when you travel the backwaters a parade of different types
Talk about keepin’ your ducks in a row! Would love
this is a local ferry “bus” that gets people from
You can rent a Shikara which comes with a guide
view from my hotel window which was way the hell
when you farm on the backwaters, you don’t herd cows,
The canals of Alleppey are filled with all kinds of
these guys hauled three boats from water to shore with
It’s a combo recreation and working beach so fisherman cleaning
the lighthouse is a landmark for this popular beach area
built in 1799 by a Maharaja who wanted a hunting
the colors and wrap of a turban represent the community
be a cow! Hinduism favors a vegetarian diet and considers
Australia
these guys worked in an entertaining unison and made the
After watching this cheeky guy pretend to fish from sewage
there is a street in Fremantle that is lined with
I had Easter dinner here with “almost as good as
Upon discovery in 1696, a Dutch captain named this island
ho ho ho… that’s a little animal trainer humor from
Quokkas have been dubbed this moniker due to the fact
This is porpoise bay- one of the many stops on
This is Eagle Bay – where, in addition to amazing
These seagulls reminded me of the hyenas on safari who
Fremantle has adorable and well preserved Victorian and Edwardian streetscapes
I didn’t get that leaving your lunch table – even
In later years a single cell came with a fold
this is a fabulous tour!! Established in 1850, almost 10,000
one of the many breakfast offerings in the Fremantle market…the
Everyone seems to know each other at this market…especially around
I spent my first day in Perth at the botanical
just about 15 minutes outside Perth, the locals call it
public murals pop up on city walls anywhere/everywhere. You can
They call them the “wonderwalls” of Adelaide’s street art scene.
This is in the beautiful Barrossa Valley – which produces
There was a woman from China on this tour that
The bark on Australian eucalyptus reminded me of the result
Jim Lambert visited Adelaide while on a business trip and
Autumn in Adelaide wine country….to “fall” in love with.
a lot of the wineries provide a pour like this
Adelaide is also known as the city of churches as
This made me want to find a place with a
I think I find my religion in these markets! At
All manner of produce was artfully displayed in stalls that
in this everchanging world, there’s comfort in knowing you can
these two women were making some mean paella and singing
Some artists who do their work during the day like
Each lane has a distinctive personality – this one is
Melbourne Street tours is run by the actual laneway street
The laneways like Duckboard Place, Hosier, ACDC, or Higson distill
Here’s another example of a particular artist’s brand….he tucks these
Some of these paintings will last only a day or
These profiles of aborigines are painted by various artists throughout
The alleys ( laneways ) of Melbourne are covered with
The 170 year old royal botanical gardens of Melbourne are
Melbourne’s botanical gardens are comprised of sections that represent several
Melbourne is reputed to have the best coffee in Australia
at days end as we make our way back to
This is where Tom pulled Eva to safety after their
The Great Ocean Road was built right after World War
open landscape and beautiful scenery is dotted with towns like
Hundreds of people left Scotland for the Melbourne gold rush
Part of the landscape of the Great Ocean Road, this
Spectacular! One side is a rugged coastline of rock platforms
These stacks were formed over 20 million years ago after
little messages from the universe appear everywhere
this took place on April 16th – my niece, Lauren’s
mix Altos Plata tequila, strawberry liqueur, pomegranate, chili, sage, and
This is the interior to the beautiful St Paul’s Cathedral
They tell you that Melbourne’s personality is best represented by
This is Melbourne’s hub for all kinds of activities; during
this garden borders the Yarra River and is just across
This city is so well designed – beautiful parks are
this is the man made rock pool at the south
Bronte Beach has an incredible natural rock pool where the
nature’s paintbrush makes for magnificent looking sandstone cliffs
The trail takes you along side and on top of
Bondi is one of Sydney’s favorites and said to define
This turned out to be one of my favorite things
This artwork had a powerful message – it’s a wired
Sydney puts on a lightshow every night at the harbor,
This was our view of the Three Sisters near Blue
about the only way to see these beautiful creatures is
That’s Kanga and roo. A joey has a gestation period
a section off the Sydney harbor where a bunch of
street entertainment unique to Australia!
Hard to believe that this assembly of flora and fauna
The trunks of these trees stay above ground to catch
The boat driver was as salty as the river and
Cassowary still roam wild in this part of the rainforest
This is Mossman River which is only one tiny part
An early morning walk along 4 mile beach followed by
I couldn’t bring myself to eat kangaroo or crocodile in
“cheep” date.
budgerigars, galahs, rosellas, cockatoos, kookaburras, starlings – all with the
just another day at the office
this “chick” was adorable – she kept rubbing her cheek
when he thought he wouldn’t get busted this guy dipped
they are such delicate and polite eaters! And if another
In Port Douglas there is a sanctuary called Wildlife Habitat
I’ve been re-thinking cremation as my burial method. I’m now
this guy was a real performer…as soon as he had
On our way to the Blue mountains we stopped at
Her husband was governor and had this seat carved into
if the keepers weren’t on guard this one would be
my approach to meditation is non-traditional and from a uniquely
These gold fish must get fed by visitors because as
every time I looked up from my meal, this dog
A lighthouse sits at one of the highest peaks of
These peacocks were regular visitors at the retreat’s pool where
This is Clarkes Beach and considered the main one in
Founded by Tibetan monks, this sanctuary has some of the
I was befriended by Patricia, an Uber Driver from Poland,
Byron Bay has some distinctive beach scenes – Belongil Beach,
They say that tattoos can reveal the story of a
I stayed at the Cape Byron Retreat which is about
Byron Bay has it all – beaches, mountains, rainforests, and
but I never got close enough to tempt a bite
and watching the ships sail away….at the historic wharf in
I took a boat tour ( Wild Byron) for box
our guide put a hydra phone into the water so
after this gal breeched very, very close to our boat,
The whaling industry reduced the number of these whales to
while having lunch in Brunswick Harbour, this guy canvassed the
Our guide told us that “Mom’s” enroute to the barrier
Our guide told us that if you ooooo and ahhhh
I think human mating rituals pale in comparison to the
I liked how this whale’s shape seemed to align with
A railway at a 52′ incline ( the steepest passenger
Before arriving at this kangaroo sanctuary, I had been served
On the walk along the coast from Bondi Beach to
The joeys are coupled when they are put to bed
This is another permanent waterhole that has been carved out
this gal had been taking ice baths for weeks to
quite taken by this place!
I saw a lot of dead fish on the banks
Every stop on this tour was breathtaking but I think
the gorge is part of the West MacDonnell range wilderness
the vertical slants of MacDonnell ranges were a favorite view
Albert Namatjira is a famous aboriginal artist who used this
landscape of Simpson’s Gap….not hard to figure out why it
nature’s idea of landscaping a pathway
this permanent water hole is a byproduct of the floods
that white tree is called a ghost gum – it’s
known as the stone of dream time for aboriginal people.
at the end of the path, the cathedral awaits in
The magnificent displays of red, gold, and orange hues glow
At dawn or dusk you’ll find rock wallabies hanging out
a little scenery on the path to Simpson’s Gap –
This place was truly amazing – they have a wide
This dingo lives in a habitat created for him and
The joeys are kept in lined pillow cases that closely
This is a memorial to Roger – yes – he
most kangaroos sleep all day to conserve energy in the
As we started to walk out into the sanctuary, this
This is Teddy and he’s the resident cheeky boy. Teddy
star of the documentary Kangaroo Dundee, this good man established
its main goal is to help orphaned baby kangaroos whose
That’s Pippen – he was brought to the sanctuary in
They are extremely rare and can only be found on
Hope is the thing with feathers, That perches in the
loved how she had her hands gracefully folded. I’m thinking
this one is cleaning the clock of this tree’s branches….which
while admiring this creature, a dentally challenged man with alcohol
I’m a vegetarian. Were I not, I believe I probably
if you’d like to swing on a star, carry moonbeams
the eastern grey is the second largest kangaroo after the
one of the few animals that could pass as a
this guy seems to prefer a mobile trailer over a
our guide had just told us that koalas spend most
This is the view from Payton & Jones, a winery
This vineyard was established by Polish immigrants and the landscape
Carrie, the gal on the right is in charge of
koalas sleep about 16-18 hours a day and only wake
they are the most friendly and placid of the kangaroos
At sunset on Philip Island these guys come up in
New Zealand
view from the river walk just outside the town of
Arrowtown was established during the 1860’s gold rush and main
this fiord is in the southwest corner of New Zealand
this is the lake that Queenstown wraps its shore around
these towns represent “middle earth magic” as film locations for
travel through the Fiordland is absolutely spectacular – many people
fans of Lord of the Rings will recognize this mountain
The lake offers reflective views of the Earl Mountains and
quirky art, George Street, and Robbie Burns birthplace ( he
from the moment you hit the tarmac, your lungs inflate
Dunedin is another city that encourages street art to provide
There are a lot of flightless birds in NZ simply
This is a view of the Otago Peninsula which includes
our guide told us that there would be no WiFi
a glacier lake surrounded by alpine scenery….in spring, these fields
discovered in 1642 by a Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, it
The Southern Alps of NZ South island include Mount Cook,
this was the bridge we walked to cross from a
if you have a fondness for glacier lakes and alpine
This is Worcester bridge, my favorite of several bridges that
I felt like I was on a movie set when
This cute little street was developed in the 1930’s with
Several artists came together to create a gallery of street
such were the road conditions after rain poured every day
This community has its act together – not only did
In addition to this town’s great vibe and personality, its
Napier’s Marine Parade is a walk way along the Pacific
these beautiful pastel colored buildings line the streets of charming
A 7.8 earthquake leveled the town and during 1931 –
There is nothing like looking if you want to find
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.
It is not a bad thing to celebrate a simple
The attention to detail is so great here that at
Peter Jackson discovered the pastures of the shire when he
Maori parents return their children’s umbilical cords ( te pito
minerals like gold, silver, mercury, sulphur, arsenic, and thallium suspend
This is champagne pool, the largest hot spring in NZ
this is the first stop with a local guide on
these pools of mud contain unrefined crude oil and in
they discovered this geyser when maori women were doing laundry
A Maori guide opens a large wooden box in the
It’s called Pohutu which means big splash. I guess that
I’m hoping this sign was not placed here because enough
Whakarewarewa is both a time capsule and living space for
The Rotorua tourist information center really has its act together
I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life but
a little roasted pumpkin with feta anyone? This restaurant was
The infamous tractors of Hahei tow boats out to the
The marine preserve ( Te Whanganui-A-Hei ) near Cathedral Cove
in Hahei there’s a trailer called the Blue Kitchen where
The woman on my left facing the camera is Liz
This is the driveway up to Batch winery on Waiheke
Maori were the first to arrive from the Pacific Islands
It’s about a 12 minute ferry ride from Auckland to
This is an adorable hipster pocket of Auckland that hosts
This is Auckland’s main cruise terminal and Shuckers Brothers is
I think there are almost 15 wineries on this island
New Zealand was the first country to legalize a woman’s
This is actually a sky tower for telecommunications built next
The one on the left had an eyeglass chain with
I saw this guy a couple of times while strolling
deposits of minerals contained in the water refract the sunlight
Pohutu means “big splash” and this one lives up to
smack dab in the middle of Cuba street, this colorful
Believe there is a great power silently working all things
I never made promises lightly, And there have been some
Situated on the shores of Lake Takapo, this church was
The sky in Christchurch at around 4ish during autumn turns
In traditional hangi cooking food like fish, chicken, lamb, pork
It costs about $50. to enter the spa and sit
land of whispering angels….that’s what it seems like when you
after a devastating earthquake, this city re-planned, re-built, and re-energized.