Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for asia
A Heavenly Tomb
By Linda Tancs
The lavish lifestyles of South Korea’s elite during the Silla dynasty form part of a roofless museum in Tumuli Park. Just four hours away from Seoul by bus, the 37-acre grounds contain 23 royal burial mounds. The most celebrated (the interior of which is open to the public) is Cheonmachong, the “Heavenly Horse” tomb, a burial site for a 5th-6th century Silla king and his consort. When the site was excavated in the 1970s, a mounted horse painting (the only one discovered from the Silla era) was found, along with over 10,000 artifacts of the good life, like jade tiger claw earrings and a gold crown embellished with jade tiger claws. Clearly, it was good to be the king.
Share this:
The Care and Feeding of Pandas
By Linda Tancs
Less than 2000 in number, the giant panda (native only to the six major mountain ranges in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces of China) is a national and international treasure subject to intense conservation efforts. That’s why the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding was established in March 1987. The 92-acre verdant parkland is dotted with ornamental green lawns and greens, wild bamboo forests, woods, man-made dens, rocks, caves and plant pits along rivers, lakes, and brooks, all intended to mimic the gentle creatures’ natural environment. Visitors get a close look at their movements through winding paths flanked with bamboo and ornamental plants. Red pandas (called “lesser pandas”), a much smaller cousin, live at the base as well, as do other endangered wildlife, including swans, peacocks, birds, butterflies and hundreds of insects.
Share this:
Asia’s Largest Transnational Waterfall
By Linda Tancs
Spanning China and Vietnam, Detian is purportedly Asia’s largest transnational waterfall. Surrounded by karst mountain peaks, the three-tiered cascade reaches its most rapid pace in June and July. On the Chinese side, a walking path through tropical foliage lands you great views; just bring lots of mosquito repellent. To get there, go to Nanning and then take the coach at North Passenger Transportation Center to Daxin County. Upon arrival at Daxin, you should transfer to the bus route Daxin – Qilong – Detian.
Share this:
The World’s Largest Cave
By Linda Tancs
Spelunkers, take note. Beginning this year, there’s a new cave to explore in Vietnam’s Quang Binh province. Known as the Son Doong, it was fully explored for the first time in 2009 despite being discovered in 1991. Over five miles long and nearly 500 feet high at its peak, the passage is the world’s largest known cavern, a title previously held by Deer Cave in the Malaysian section of the island of Borneo.
Share this:
Bienvenue à Shanghai
By Linda Tancs
Following China’s loss of the Opium Wars in 1842 and the opening of its port cities to international traffic, the government of Shanghai granted land comprising today’s Xuhui and Luwan districts to the French consulate. Known as the French Concession, its cafes, boutiques and tree-lined avenues are possessed of a certain je ne sais quoi, an attractive respite from the otherwise bustling and futuristic-looking metropolis. Bienvenue à Shanghai!
Share this:
The Heart of Buddhism
By Linda Tancs
Tomorrow marks the full moon day of the third lunar month. That means that in Buddhist-majority countries like Thailand they’ll be celebrating Makha Bucha Day. Held in honor of Buddha, the event commemorates Buddha’s sharing of his enlightenment with a congregation of disciples. The day ends with a closing ceremony where thousands of monks light candles, chant scripts in temple grounds and perform the ritual of wien thien (circling the temple three times) in major shrines.
Share this:
The World’s Longest Teak Bridge
By Linda Tancs
In Myanmar’s ancient capital Amarapura you’ll find the expected ruins of the palace and tombs of old kings. But what survives in the old capital is even more stunning: a teak bridge spanning 1.2 kilometers. The longest teak bridge, U Bein Bridge was built from pieces of the city’s dismantled teak palace when the capital moved to Mandalay. Enjoy the view at sunset.
Share this:
Hong Kong Foodies
By Linda Tancs
If you have no idea what a Chinese menu says but want to eat like a local, then maybe a Hong Kong Foodie tour is for you. Lasting nearly four hours, these guided walking tours are conducted by a local. You’ll taste samples at six local restaurants serving Hong Kong food. All participants will receive a map with the tour route and directions to the closest MTR stations. Bring your appetite.
Share this:
Town of Storehouses
By Linda Tancs
Kurashiki, Japan is an old market town near the Golden Route linking Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. Dating to the Edo Period, the picture-perfect city is prized for its preserved canal district, dotted with willow trees and old storehouses converted into museums, boutiques and cafes. Don’t miss the Ohara Museum of Art (Japan’s oldest museum for Western art) and the displays of Bizen-yaki pottery, an ancient pottery style perfected over 1000 years ago.
Share this:
The Emerald on the Green
By Linda Tancs
Known as the “Emerald on the Green,” Galle Face Hotel is a Sri Lankan icon hosting royalty and other glitterati since 1864. One of the oldest hotels east of the Suez and one of the few remaining colonial hotels in Asia, it’s situated in the heart of Colombo opposite Galle Face Green. Its old world charm is being preserved through a restoration project in the Classic Wing, which will continue to house historical memorabilia and artifacts.
