Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for asia
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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Nature and Art in Japan
By Linda Tancs
Blending art into the natural environment, Hakone Open-Air Museum is Japan’s first open-air museum. The verdant lawns provide an ideal exhibition space for attractions like the sculpture garden. One of the highlights is the Symphonic Sculpture, where visitors enter and ascend a spiral staircase surrounded by colorful stained glass to a viewing platform with views of the park and the surrounding mountains. The Hakone Open Air Museum is a few steps from Chokoku No Mori Station on the Hakone Tozan Railway. Take advantage of one of the hot springs baths while you’re in town.
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Rabbit Island
By Linda Tancs
In Okunoshima, you can rest assured that some bunny loves you. All puns aside, the Japanese island in eastern Hiroshima is known as Rabbit Island for a reason. Make that 1,000 reasons. A rabbit lover’s paradise, you’ll find them everywhere from forest to beach. Early mornings and late evenings are the best times to take photos. Keep a respectful distance, don’t feed them (except for refilling water pans) and don’t try to take one home with you. The island is a 15-minute ferry ride from Tadanômi Port with services leaving roughly every 30 to 45 minutes. You’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the Inland Sea and its many islands.
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Blooms in Malaysia
By Linda Tancs
As if Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands weren’t scenic enough with its tea plantations, forests and waterfalls, it now boasts a Flora Park. Boasting a sea of blooms bounded by winding trails, the park features a series of private picnic areas available in timed sessions. November is considered the best month to visit the region. The travel time from Kuala Lumpur is roughly four hours.
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Off the Grid in Thailand
By Linda Tancs
As tropical beaches go, there aren’t too many places in Thailand that one would consider to be off-the-grid, especially if it’s the fourth-largest island. Yet that’s the case for Ko Kut (Koh Kood), a beach lover’s haven where relaxation is the prime attraction and palms outnumber people unless you travel in-season (November to February), when a lively open-air music venue breaks the silence. You can get there via Trat Airport by ferry.
