Stories & advice from a traveler's perspective
05.24.2013- The Angkor Temples are truly spectacular. Actually, nearly all of the temples in the Siem Reap area are impressive in their own right. The temple of Bayon at Angkor Thom really stands out, though. With 54 towers covered in stone faces, it is truly a work of art. To top it all off, the temple is nearly 800 years old.
Over the course of 3 days we visit Central (Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Park, Shopping, and Star Ferry), Kowloon (Waterfront, Symphony of Lights, and the Temple Street Night Market), Lantau Island (Po Lin Monastery and the Big Buddha), and Macau (casinos and the historic district).
Hong Kong and Macau are two of Asia’s most interesting locations. As Special Administrative Regions of China, they have freedoms not found elsewhere in the country and a completely different look and feel. I think they’re the perfect locations to focus on for my first travel video.
05.07.2013- I love this little girl enjoying the sunny weather at Lake Bled feeding the ducks. It’s a reminder that no matter where in the world you may be, nationalities and locations don’t matter to a child. Whether it’s the U.S. or Slovenia, kids just enjoy being kids. With the lake’s castle as a backdrop, it’s definitely more scenic than my pond at home, though!
05.06.2013- This flower reminded me more of Hawaii or one of the islands in the Caribbean when I came across it in Positano. It was the only one in bloom on the bush it was growing from, and appeared near perfect, so it really stood out.
05.01.2013- Sunset over the harbor and walls of Old San Juan is spectacular on a night with just enough cloud cover to reflect the golden rays of the last of the sun’s light off of the water below and the clouds above. We happened upon it by chance just at the right moment while out for a mid-dinner stroll (restaurant hopping–best way to get a real taste of San Juan).
04.30.2013- To celebrate my 30th birthday, I decided to prove to myself that I was still capable of doing something a little adventurous. So, I signed up for a Rainforest adventure while in Puerto Rico complete with rock climbing, zip-lining, and rappelling. The rappelling was clearly the most awesome part. I was a little afraid, but it was absolutely exhilirating!
04.21.2013- Ko Panyi is a small island in Phang Nga, Thailand. It is mostly a fishing village (and a tourist attraction) populated by a community of muslims. It’s often referred to as the “Muslim Fishing Village” on tour routes. The people are quite friendly (almost too friendly since they’re really trying to get you to purchase some of their wares), and it’s interesting to see how they go about their daily lives–you can visit the school and see the children learning, playing soccer, or eating lunch–in this small community. The waterfront is especially eye-catching with all of the fishing vessels and nets waiting to head out to see and haul in their next catch.
04.18.2013- Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania has the most beautiful gardens I have ever experienced–in the US, Asia, or Europe. The variety of plants and flowers inside the greenhouses and dispersed around the grounds is astounding. I love these flowers in particular. While they’re small, their color and shape make them almost look like something out of a cartoon.
04.16.2013- Maya Bay, where they filmed the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio is as pretty as one would imagine. Sure, the throngs of tourists can be a bit much, but if your tour guide times it right, you can experience the island with a minimal amount of people and experience this small slice of paradise. Sitting on the white, soft sand beach, looking out at the turquoise blue of the water with the rising dark green peaks encircling the bay make you feel a bit as if you were on a movie set. The beauty feels surreal.
04.14.2013- I love this picture of Ravello from Villa Rufolo showing the terraced hillside of the Amalfi coast. Wine vines grow rampant, you can just make out a few olive trees, and the orange rooftops typical of tuscany are also dotted along the countryside here. The squiggly terraces remind me of waves in the sea, and the rocky peaks in the background look more like they belong in New Zealand or the South Pacific. I love the combination!
04.29.2013- Mykonos isn’t the most beautiful of the Greek islands; it pales in comparison to Santorini or Corfu, but it has its own redeeming qualities, particularly its windmills and waterfront area (along with its beaches). The island’s harbor area is a great place to stroll and take in the view or relax with a cocktail and listen to the waves slowly roll in.
04.09.2013- The Amalfi Coast is breathtaking, particularly the way the buildings seem to be built straight up the cliffsides as if stuck on by superglue. It is quite spectacular to see how builders have been able to take the limited surface given to them and incorporate their work into the rock. The town of Amalfi, where this photo was taken, has a jetty that juts straight into the sea. It’s an idilic spot to sit and enjoy the view and ponder just how the architects have managed to do it.
04.08.2013- Ayutthaya Historical Park is worth a visit while in Thailand, but if you’re going to see the temples of Siem Reap, see these first since you will probably be a bit underwhelmed in comparison. One of the more interesting and most photographed sights on the grounds is the Buddha Head in a Tree. This stone buddha head was decapitated from its base during a 1767 Burmese attack and somehow ended up over time embedding itself into this tree’s tangled roots. Even its shade matches the bark making it appear as if it were a natural part of the tree.
04.04.2013- Lantau Island is one of the many island that make up Hong Kong. It is home to Hong Kong Disney and the Hong Kong’s Airport, but otherwise it is mostly known for being under-developed and having some beautiful beaches and forested areas. It is also known for the Giant Buddha that resides at the top of one of its peaks. You can spend a very long day hiking up (and up and up) to it or you can take a 25 min cable car ride to see it. This picture was taken from the cable car. It was one of my first sightings of the buddha, and I don’t know if the picture truly gives you an appreciation for how large it is, but it was quite spectacular in person.
04.04.2013- Macau is most well known for its casinos (as I’ve mentioned in the past), but I loved its historic old center. The side streets were filled with school children walking home, shopkeepers selling their everyday wares, and images like this. Peaceful corners like this were a welcome sight after the hustle and bustle of the casinos and the main drag filled with tourists.
04.1.2013- Wat Arun is yet another Buddhist temple in Bangkok, but there’s something about it that draws photographers and tourists alike to see it. Maybe it’s the way that it’s situated on the river or maybe it’s the colors interspersed on its central tower, or maybe it’s just the sheer size, but it’s one of the most eye-catching sights in all of Bangkok.
03.31.2013- In honor of Easter and our new Pope, I thought I’d post a photo from the Vatican. I was going to opt for a more beautiful one of St. Peter’s, but this one (despite the lighting issues from it being behind bullet proof glass–thank the unbalanced person who took a hammer to it a few years back) seemed most appropriate for the occasion. Regardless of your religion (I have visited Jewish Temples, Mosques, Buddhist Temples, and more Christian denominations of churches than I can name and respect every one of them), I think anyone can appreciate the true art that went into making such a life-like sculpture out of marble.
03.28.2013- The Nubble Lighthouse in Cape Neddick, Maine is just plain cute. There’s really no other way to describe it. It reminds me of a cross between a doll house and a playground. Even the colors are playful. Maine has so many lighthouses that it’s hard to keep track of them, but this one always sticks out in my mind.
03.27-2013- Ba Pa-In Palace, located in Ayutthaya, was used as the summer residence of the Thai kings. While there is still a royal family in Thailand, they rarely use the palace other than for occasional ceremonies or holidays. Today, it is primarily a tourist destination with wonderful walking paths around pristine ponds and beautiful decor like this.
03.24.2013- Macau is most well known as the “Las Vegas of Asia,” but it also has a historic old Portuguese Quarter that is worth a stroll. The old ruins of Saint Paul Church are a must-visit when in Macau. The only thing remaining of the original church is its facade, but that’s enough. In fact, I found it more impressive than most churches since I’ve never seen anything like it before.
3.23.2012- China is known for its acrobatic feats; so while in Beijing, it seemed only natural to add an acrobatics show to our itinerary. I have always been impressed by gymnastics, but this took it to the next level. I watched quite a few unbelievable scenes from 8 motorcycles going full speed around the inside of a metal dome to this act with all of the gymnasts balanced on one bike!
03.22.2013- The grounds surrounding Wat Phra Kaew (or Temple of the Emerald Buddha) are spectacular. Churches in Europe may put me in awe, and I may never say anything can top the Vatican and all of the treasures they have amassed there, but the vibrant colors that surround you everywhere here are like nothing you will find in the west. It is a totally new experience, and being my first stop in all of Asia, it left me with quite an impression.
03.21.2013- The Forbidden City, just past Tiananmen Square, is where the emperor resided in Beijing. Only the emperor was allowed to enter certain parts of the complex, while others the empress, concubines, court officials, and eunuchs could utilize. The regular population of Beijing was forbidden from entering the grounds, thus the name. It takes up a huge section of land–its perimeter is over 2 miles long, encompasses 9,999 rooms, and has approximately 800 buildings. Like a lot of places in China reserved exclusively for the use of the emperor and his family, it gives you a pretty good idea why the Chinese eventually revolted against these traditions and excesses.
03.20.2013- Victoria Peak quite possibly has the most beautiful view of a modern city that you will ever encounter. It is breathtaking at any time of day, but there is just something special about the combination of the lights, the colors, and the harbor at night that make the experience truly magical. Having witnessed it at both day and night, I I would suggest taking in the view in daytime so that at night you can see how it truly transforms.
03.19.2013- Bamboo Island is my favorite of the Phi Phi Islands. Unlike it’s biggest sister, Phi Phi Don which is relatively commercialized or its most famous sister Phi Phi Ley (where they filmed the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio), this island offers a bit of peace and tranquility. I found that rare feeling of “paradise” here that I didn’t get in the other more crowded locations. I could have sat here in the surf enjoying the blue water and amazing view all day long.
03.18.2013- The Gothic Temple in Ayutthaya is the only of its kind in Thailand. Officially named Wat Nivet Thamaprawat, it was modeled after an English Gothic church rather than a Buddhist temple. Built by King Chulalongkorn in the late 1800s, he took his favorite ideas from abroad and brought them home with him. The temple is on an island in the Chaphraya River. To reach it, you must take a cable car across it (an adventure in itself).
03.17.2013- I can’t believe how close the monkeys at Angkor Wat allowed us to get. They seem quite used to daily contact with humans. Our guide was even able to hand this mom a bottle of water. She then proceeded to unscrew the cap and give her baby a sip of water from it. It’s amazing how advanced they are, and how easily they adapt to whatever their situation in life is. We could learn a lesson from them.
03.16.2013- The Great Wall of China is as impressive in person as you would expect it to be. At 5,500 miles long, you could stretch the Great Wall across the United States back and forth and still make it nearly back a thirst time before you ran out of wall. Walking even a tiny section of the stairs that make up the wall, it’s hard to imagine that humans built it. It was worth going all the way to Beijing just to experience it in person.
03.15.2013- Sunrise at Angkor Wat is a must do in Siem Reap. Getting up in the pitch black dark isn’t exactly my favorite thing to do, but it was beyond worth it as the sun began to rise behind the temple. As the sky turned to a bright pink and began to reflect a mirror image on the temple and the sky into the pond in front of the temple, this spectacular image began to emerge. I couldn’t believe the brilliance of the colors (this hasn’t been photoshopped) and the vast size of the temple complex.
3.14.2013- I had the opportunity to get VERY close to some tigers while in Thailand–a little too close for comfort, in fact. However, since I still have all of my limbs intact, I can now say that it was worth a little bit of fear to get some of the incredible shots I (and my husband) managed. Tigers are beautiful animals, but you definitely have to respect their strength and the fact that no matter how much human contact they’ve had, they’re still wild animals. All they have to do is yawn and show you their teeth for you to realize it!
03.12.2013- Sorry I’ve been lax the last few weeks with my photo of the day, but it was for good reason; I just returned from a trip through Asia! It was an amazing experience, and I have plenty of new photos to put up over the next few weeks and some great travel tales to write. My day job is taking lot of my time at the moment (playing catch-up), but hopefully I can write a few soon. In the meantime, here’s a new photo of the day. My husband and I have the opportunity to swim in the river with two elephants in Thailand, and the water fight that ensued was even more fun than it looks!
02.20.2013- Antibes has a great little walk along the waterfront with beautiful views of the sea–and the occasional yacht. It’s a city that’s ideal for a stroll. You can easily ramble the old city on foot, taking in the sights and sounds and sampling the delicious food you will encounter along the way in the market and on the streets.
2.19.2013- This sunset out in the middle of the Caribbean reminds me just how vast the ocean is. The sun even looks insignificant in comparison. Every sunset I experienced while cruising the area was somehow unique; it reminded me a little bit of the old snowflake adage but much, much warmer.
2.18.2013- Dubrovnik’s iconic orange roofs are best viewed from the city walls which you can walk fully around. The few places where the roofs are browner are the originals; the rest were rebuilt after the war which gives you a good idea of the damage it did to this historic city. The view out to Lokrum Island from up here is not easily forgotten.
2.17.2013- While driving from Sedona to the Grand Canyon early one morning in Arizona we came upon these Elk on the side of the road. My husband practically did a u-turn in the middle of the road to get a better look at them. They allowed us to quietly get out of the car to see them better. We kept our distance so we didn’t spook them off, but getting this close to the herd was awesome.
2.16.2013- This picture of our breakfast at our amazing hotel in Santorini still brings back fond memories of of the island. It feels decidedly Greek with the fresh feta cheese, grapes, fresh juice and Greek yogurt. We got to enjoy this each morning overlooking the caldera as the sun rose into the sky.
02.15.2013- The sea lions that spend their days lounging around on the docks in San Francisco’s harbor are a tourist attraction in themselves. They jostle for space and take up every available piece of real estate on the floating docks that have been placed in the water for their use. I was surprised by both the number and size of them. Maybe they’re only a novelty to a visiting east coaster, but I was enthralled by them.
02.14.2013- What better way to say Happy Valentine’s Day than with Sacre Coeur Church? Its name, translated from French, is Sacred Heart. This beautiful white church sits atop a high hill on the edge of Paris providing impressive views out over this city known as the city of love and romance. In a lot of ways, I preferred it to the Eiffel Tower which is a bit stark and cold in comparison to this lovely stonework.
02.13.2013- Dresden’s Frauenkirche’s sad history is quite visible on its exterior, and I’ve posted about that in the past, so I’ll say no more on that subject. The interior, however, is ethereal feeling with bright pastels, plenty of light, and a soaring ceiling culminating in this beautiful dome. Standing beneath it, you feel like you’re basking in a heavenly glow.
02.12.2013- I had the opportunity a few years back to attend an air show at McGuire Air Force Base. I saw a lot of impressive feats pulled off by the pilots while there, but this was one of the best. Getting three planes to fly this close together in formation like this takes some real talent. It must be pretty scary for the pilots because I know it made me a little bit nervous from the ground!
2.8.2013- Capri isn’t exactly known for its beaches. The island is very rocky with steep drop-offs in places and irregular terrain. When you think of the beautiful island and all that it has to offer, it doesn’t conjure up the images of white sand beaches and lapping waves that many islands do. However, the water around Capri is a cerulean blue and just looks too inviting to pass up. In several locations throughout the island, you can find “concrete beaches” like this one where they have poured concrete onto the rocks in order to give locals–and visitors–a comfortable place to lay out in the sun and a great platform to jump into the sea from for a dip. It looked much higher from the vantage point of standing directly over the water!
2.7.2013- Bijagual Waterfall can alternate between a slow trickle and a pounding deluge depending upon the time of year. When we visited, it was at the beginning of the rainy season and the waterfall was just starting to increase in pressure and intensity. We had a perfect visit here, first horseback riding out to the trail that lead to the waterfall, then taking a nature hike along it with a guide who made the jungle come to life pointing out little creatures and plants we wouldn’t have even noticed otherwise. When we finally came to the trailhead above the waterfall, we just stood there in awe for quite a while enjoying the cool mist and beautiful view all the way out to the ocean.
02.06.2013- Sevilla’s Alazar is its top attraction. With intricate carvings and decorations throughout the Moorish medieval palace, every corner has a surprise. You can hurt your head craning it around trying to get a glimpse of all of the carved ceilings and colorful chiseled walls. This courtyard is a highlight of the palace, taking advantage of natural light and the natural color of the stones used in the decor.
2.5.2013- Sintra, Portugal has enough impressive palaces and houses to keep someone occupied for a full day at least. The National Palace, pictured here, is the easiest sight to get to and requires the least hiking. Often overlooked for the more famous Pena Palace or the jaw-dropping views the Moorish Castle offers, it has its own merits and is definitely worth a peak. The double kitchen chimneys which dominate its appearance look like upside-down funnels from outside and are interesting to inspect up-close inside of the castle, as well.
2.4.2013- Venice has a very pretty little island off of St. Mark’s Square. The historic buildings that sit on it appear to be floating directly on the lagoon. From the terrace in front of the Basilica’s Museum, you are at the perfect viewing angle to fully make out all of the details of the little island and the small manmade harbor surrounding it.
2.3.2013- The Eiffel Tower is quite possibly the most recognizable symbol of a city in the entire world. The enormous steel structure rises high above the streets of Paris, making most visitors awestruck at the mere sight of it. During the day it is striking enough, but at night during the few minutes each hour that the entire tower lights up, it is simply spectacular.
2.2.2013- Sforza Castle in Milan isn’t the most amazing castle I’ve ever visited–Europe has so many impressive ones–but it’s definitely worth a stop-off when you’re in the city. The old walls and pretty fountains and flowers make it all come together as a pleasant place to pass a bit of time and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city center.
2.1.2013- Obersalzberg is more well known by Americans as the area immediately surrounding Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. Below the mountaintop chalet lies the miles of underground bunkers Hitler had slave labor carve out for him. It now serves as the Nazi documentation center which you can visit while waiting for your bus ride up to the famed vacation home. On the crisp fall day that we visited, the fog was just lifting off of the mountains affording us a beautiful view contrasting so much with the bleak bunkers behind us with such a sad history.
1.31.2013- Mirabell Palace in Salzburg has some of the most beautiful rose bushes I have ever seen. The huge section of the garden dedicated to them is as appealing to the eye as it is to the nose. Staying on the side of the bridge outside of the center of the old town afforded us the privilege of walking through these gardens each morning on our way there. Definitely not a bad way to start off your day.
1.30.2013- Wallenstein Garden in Prague is a welcome escape from the crowds and city. While I absolutely love Prague, sometimes it’s nice to take a break and a stroll through a bit of greenery. The gardens are lovely, dotted with fountains and sculptures–and plenty of hedges. I definitely recommend stopping off here for an hour or two to relax.
