Dear Hani, Andrew, Aunt Ten and Ms. Hong – AliSun and I are deeply blessed. What began as a hazy sketch of a trip to Asia a year ago crystallizes in a beautiful celebration of family under the starry skies of the Vietnamese coast. The invitation is a delight. Saw your itinerary, writes Hani. Andrew and I are celebrating our …
A View From the Window: Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne, Vietnam
I am sitting behind the hinged door on the right side of the 32 seat bus. Friends, family and luggage are piled in as we leave Aunt Ten’s condo in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 2. We head due east to Mui Ne, on the coast of Vietnam. We gather to celebrate the birthdays of newlyweds Hani and Andrew, conveniently …
TEMPLES and TREES…DEER and AUTUMN LEAVES…NARA, Japan
NARA, JAPAN… Straight from the mouths of Wikipedia… Nara (奈良市 Nara-shi?) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture located in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture. Eight temples, shrines and ruins in Nara, specifically Tōdai-ji, Saidai-ji, Kōfuku-ji, Kasuga Shrine, Gangō-ji, Yakushi-ji, Tōshōdai-ji, and the Heijō Palace remain, together …
Dear BANGKOK…You have, literally, taken my breath away!
Dear BANGKOK, Oh my, how you have you have taken me by surprise. I must say, you literally took my breath away. Not once, not twice, but at least three times. No worries, I have come to love you anyways! In all sincerity, I feel absolute gratitude for meeting you in this growing phase of the moon, as you have …
Skirting The Storm: KIX-HKG-BKK On The Back of Heiyan
Three days prior to leaving Japan, I scroll through the news. One story catches my eye – biggest storm ever in all of recorded history to slam into the Philippines. Here’s how to help victims of Haiyan / Super Typhoon Yolanda. In addition to feelings of compassion and helplessness for the Filipinos trapped in the storm’s path, and a mumble …
Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera and beyond
We walk south, through a city that is only just awakening. The great Buddhist temples are complexes, filled with shrines, gardens, private living areas, ceremonial spaces, blessing shops and food stands. We enter Yasaka Shrine, then Murayama Park, onward south through the amazing Higashiyama district. Shopkeepers roll up their doors, sweep their porches, stock their displays. Many stores and restaurants …
Autumn in Kyoto, Japan
KYOTO, in early autumn, inspires quiet moments of meditation and reflection here in the transition of the changing leaves. Two weeks from now, the city will shimmer and sparkle with golden hues of reds and oranges from the tips of the mountaintops all the way down into the bustling city streets. A buzz is afoot in this beautiful city. The …
Kyoto’s Cafe Du Mon
Across the street from the east gate of Daitoku-ji Temple sits Cafe Du Mon, an amazing little gem of a restaurant. A fusion of Japanese, French and Italian cuisine creates a unique palette of flavors and textures, each dish more striking and intriguing than the last.
FLASHBACK TO KAUAI…Ke’e Beach
A MOMENTARY FLASHBACK TO KAUAI… Located at the end of the road on the North Shore, Ke’e is a PARADISE ON EARTH…So grateful for these precious moments communing and being in her presence…What a gift it was to rock hop among her nutrient rich soil while frolicking blissfully in her rejuvenating waters. Kauai is a gem with many treasures to …
A View of Kurama-dera Temple
I snapped this panoramic photo at Kurama-dera Temple today, about an hour north of Kyoto in the mountains. Can you spot the birthday girl? Happy birthday, AliSun Trees!