The Joys of Chai
I was in India three years ago this month. This is a post about that trip and one of the true joys of visiting this vast country–having an early morning Chai. Reposted from May […]
Asia
Bhutan: Architecture and Ornamentation
This was originally posted June 2015. I’ll long remember architecture and ornamentation in Bhutan. Most notable to me is the consistency. It’s not surprising since the country was isolated from the outside world until until the 1970s. Only slowly are influences of the...
THE GRANDE DAME: THE Mandarin Oriental Hotel, BANGKOK
Reposted from January 2016 Our car pulled up in front of the elegant Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok in the middle of the night. Groggy from some some 24 hours of traveling I appreciated the serene elegance, the smiling staff in traditional Thai attire bowing and welcoming us, the...
Jaisalmer in the Thar Desert
Originally Posted in 2019 When you sign up for a tour, sometimes there are places on the itinerary that you might not choose to visit. Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, an area in the northwest part of India, is one of those places. I couldn’t really see why we were visiting this remote destination...
Jodhpur–Blue City–a photographer’s delight
Originally Posted in 2019 Jodhpur—the second largest city in Rajasthan–has always intrigued me. Not sure why. The color? The name? A whiff of exotic? Last fall I had a very short visit there and was able to see why it has lingered in my mind. Yep, it is blue. The reasons...
Five Tips for better Travel Photography
Yep, I’m thinking about traveling. My guess is that if you are reading this you are too. Won’t it be wonderful to be on the road or in the sky again? I can’t wait to see new and familiar sights. I’d also like to to practice new photography skills I learned during lockdown...
An Homage to Lek Chaillert
by Kate Dernocoeur, guest blogger Gluay Hom is an Asian elephant. He used to live in a concrete enclosure at a zoo near Bangkok, Thailand. He was chained by his right leg, and taught to do tricks for tourists. His hindquarters atrophied from disuse, his front leg was swollen from the chain, his...
Pico Iyer shares thoughts about travel
I recently read Pico Iyer’s book “Autumn Light: Season of Fire and Farewells.” The well known and respected travel writer and avid ping pong player wrote, “….. every time I come back from a trip, everything seems much the same. I’m carrying the call to prayer above the flickering lights of...
Visiting a school in the mountains of North Vietnam
This was originally posted in 2013. It’s one of my most memorable travel experiences. An absolute highlight of our trip to the mountains of North Vietnam last January was a visit to a small school in the village of Sin Chai. Sounds so simple, but it was really a special...
Virtual Travel helps to cure Wanderlust
The Number one question I’ve been asked during the Pandemic is “Are you missing travel?” Of course, I am. Who isn’t? I love to travel and if you are reading this, you know how much I enjoy capturing my travel experiences on my camera and sharing them here on DesignDestinations.org Well,...