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 Boomerang in Singapore
By Linda Tancs
Shaped like a boomerang, Pulau Ubin is a lush island off the mainland of Singapore, just a 15-minute bumboat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. A must for nature lovers, the site boasts the Chek Jawa wetlands, one of Singapore’s richest ecosystems. In fact, six major ecosystems – sandy beach, rocky beach, seagrass lagoon, coral rubble, mangroves and coastal forest – meet there. Be sure to climb Jejawi Tower, where you’ll enjoy panoramic views and irresistible bird watching.
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Monkey Business in Thailand
By Linda Tancs
The most honored population in Lopburi, Thailand, is its thousands of macaques, thought to bring good luck to the area and its people. No wonder they get their own festival each year on the last Sunday of November. The highlight of the event is the colorful displays of food (for them, not you), including sticky rice, fruits and salad. One of the oldest cities in the country, you’ll find some spectacular attractions (besides the monkeys) like King Narai’s Palace and Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, a historic temple. The city is about a three hours’ drive north from Bangkok.
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Crossroad of Culture
By Linda Tancs
Designated by UNESCO as an area of Outstanding Universal Value, Samarkand is a city in Uzbekistan known for its mosques and mausoleums. Among the oldest, continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia, it’s along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route linking China to the Mediterranean. Registan Square is the symbol of the city’s history as a trade and cultural center as well as a stunning tourist attraction, boasting three ornately decorated madrassas surrounding the square on three sides. Another must-see site is the Gur-e-Amir mausoleum, a towering spectacle with an azure dome and beautiful tilework. It’s the burial place of the Mongol conqueror Timur (Tamerlane) and some of his descendants. Consider a guided sightseeing tour as English is not widely spoken.
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Hiking and Hot Springs in Hokkaido
By Linda Tancs
Named after the volcanic caldera lakes of Lake Shikotsu and Lake Tōya, Shikotsu-Tōya National Park is located in Hokkaido, the second-largest and least developed of Japan’s four main islands. The rugged wilderness offers refuge for many endemic species of flora and fauna, including Ezo foxes, black woodpeckers and alpine hares. Untouched woodland provides spectacular trekking opportunities along steep-sided Hohei Gorge. You’ll also find many bathing spots among the hot springs; the popular hot spring resort of Noboribetsu is within the park. Another adventure worth checking out is a ride on the Mount Usu Ropeway, a line that climbs Mount Usu, an active volcano in the park. Mount Yōtei, one of the highest peaks in the park, is said to be a look-alike Mount Fuji. See if you agree.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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The Bridge in the Sky
By Linda Tancs
A popular attraction, Sri Lanka’s Nine Arch Bridge is commonly referred to as “the bridge in the sky.” A marvel of engineering erected in 1921 during the nation’s British colonial period, it features nine arches built of a mixture of stone and bricks. The 300-foot-long bridge perched 100 feet high is flanked by tea plantations and lush vegetation, making it a favorite of shutterbugs. Located in the town of Ella, the best way to view it is by taking a train along the Ella-Kandy railway line.
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Fields of Lavender in Japan
By Linda Tancs
Although there are numerous flower fields of various sizes across Furano, Japan, a major draw are the lavender fields that peak from around mid-July to early August. Once a thriving agricultural product in the region, competing imports have shifted the focus to a booming tourism market. The best place for viewing is Farm Tomita, where the Tokachi mountain range provides a magnificent backdrop for the fields. At the farm’s sister site, Lavender East, you can take the Lavender Bus through the fields. Naturally, you can buy a range of lavender-related products as well.
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A Place to Stop in Malaysia
By Linda Tancs
Part of the state of Terengganu in Malaysia, the Perhentian Islands (designated “big” and “small”) are a beachgoer’s paradise. You’ll get what you’d expect: swaying palm trees, chalk-white beaches and azure waters. Diving conditions are best in July and August (high season), but if traveling on a budget (or you just desire more peace and quiet), then consider April, May or June. Perhentian means “place to stop.” Maybe you’ll agree.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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Old Wood in Japan
By Linda Tancs
The world’s oldest surviving wooden structures are found on the grounds of Horyuji Temple in Nara, Japan, the only Buddhist monastery remaining from the Asuka Period. It was built in A.D. 607 during the reign of Prince Shotoku, who helped spread Buddhism. The complex contains dozens of historical and cultural properties, many of them designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. Not surprisingly, Horyuji is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first in the country to be so designated along with Himeji Castle. Highlights include a five-story pagoda and the octagonal Yumedono, or Hall of Dreams.
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White Heron Castle
By Linda Tancs
Himeji Castle is a hilltop Japanese castle complex situated in the city of Himeji in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan. One of the country’s first UNESCO World Heritage Sites, it’s popularly known as “White Heron Castle” because it resembles the outstretched wings of a white heron. Naturally, white is a predominant color that graces the castle walls. The first fortifications built on the site were completed in the 1400s; the main keep seen today dates from 1609. Most visitors enter the complex through the Sannomaru, a large, cherry tree-lined lawn and a popular spot for viewing cherry blossoms in early April.
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Snow Monsters in Japan
By Linda Tancs
Mount Zao is a volcanic mountain range in the Tohoku region of Japan. Known for its rough winters, it’s no surprise that the tall fir trees on the mountain’s slopes are draped in snow and ice. Their surreal look has earned them the nickname “snow monsters.” They form around the peak of the Zao Ski Resort and are usually most spectacular around February. Access to the monsters is provided by a ropeway and a gondola for both skiers and non-skiers.
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