Greater Taipei lies at the northernmost tip of the fish-shaped island of Taiwan, and from the air, the land below looks green and densely forested. At ground level, you find that any untended land is soon covered in jungle-like plant growth. This is, after all, a tropical island. Nowadays, Taipei, a time-worn old Chinese city …
Continue reading “Taipei – The Smallest Big City You’ll Ever See”
The three of us have traveled together since Tess was a little tike: Arkansas to see the cousins, roughing it on Buffalo River, Mexico’s beaches, Disney World, Swimming with manatees in Crystal River, PCB beaches and go-karts, Washington DC, Safaris in Africa, skiing at Lake Tahoe, and so much more, but this trip, oh, this trip was one of the very best. Tess …
It’s a little Chinese but not solidly Chinese. The people here identify as Taiwanese, not Chinese, but most speak Mandarin, look like other Chinese people, and eat Chinese food. But to be a bit more factual, their culture reflects a mixture of traditions and tastes left by a handful of European countries as they attempted to conquer this part …
Most of us may think we know a little about China, or we at least have an impression. When thinking of China, maybe the phrase, “Made in China,” pops into our thoughts, or how about the scolding our parents used to give us when we would not eat our breakfast, “Eat your food, children in …
Occupied predominantly by ethnic Tibetans, this autonomous region of China is a world of its own. It is the home and mother to Mt. Everest, and most of its land is on the very high-altitude Tibetan Plateau. The weather this time of year is very dry and cold. The dryness wreaks havoc on the sinuses and makes the insides of our noses feel like prickly pear …
Our first impression of Nepal was not great. Its blue skies were completely obscured with haze and smoke from agricultural burning, car emissions, dry conditions, and dust trapped in its valley. It’s a typical condition in the dry season. The city of Kathmandu is old, dirty, noisy, and filled with people . . . women in colorful, silky dresses and scarves, sandals, and toe …
“Himalayan kingdom known for its unique GNH (Gross National Happiness).” Buddhism is not just the primary religion in Bhutan; it is a way of life. It guides everything. Compared to many countries, there are fewer formal laws. A firm belief in Buddha eliminates the need for behavioral laws. From early childhood, Bhutanese people begin to …
As dry, dirty, dusty, and tired-looking as we found New Delhi and most of the cities we visited here, there are, in fact, plentiful green spaces. Beautifully planted and manicured parks with mature trees, lots of flowers, and green lawns are abundant in parks and around important monuments. Most parks are former vast grounds surrounding …
It’s been a whirlwind four days, and now is a good time to say that from now until April 6, we will be on planned, hectic schedules, just like the last four days. It is not our favorite way to travel, as we like to go to a place and stay for a while, but …
We’ve never had a more packed two days! We arrived in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday afternoon. After arriving at Barry and Reto’s place, and a brief rest, we headed out for the first event of the Fasnacht carnival, which began about 7 pm (never mind, you must arrive about 5 PM to get a good spot …