The Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is dedicated to Tenjin (Sugawara-no-Michizane), the patron saint of students. Kitano Tenmangu is a major Shinto shrine located northwest of Kyoto, Japan. The shrine is famous for its tea ceremony in February which is performed by apprentice geisha under 1,500 blooming plum trees. Kitano Tenmangu was built in 947 AD in…
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The Southern Alps are the highest range in Australasia and contain most of New Zealand’s highest peaks with the highest being Mount Cook at over 12,000 feet. The Southern Alps are a mountain range extending nearly the entire length of New Zealand’s Southern Island. The range varies in elevation from 3,000 feet to peaks that…
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Nubble Lighthouse takes its name from the narrow stretch of land leading to the small island housing the lighthouse. The Nubble Lighthouse is located near the town of York, Maine about 50 miles south of Portland. It was constructed in 1879 and it was known as the Knubble Lighthouse. The United States government transferred the…
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Rainbow Riverside Park is named after Rainbow Bridge and is just north of Raohe Night Market. Rainbow Riverside Park is located in Taipei along the Keelung River between the Sun Yat-Sen Freeway and the First MacArthur Bridge. The park is on both sides of the river and is a common place for joggers and cyclists….
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Frederiksonborg Castle is the largest Renaissance castle in the Nordic region. Frederiksonborg Castle is named after Danish King, Federik II and is located in the town of Hillerod, less than an hour outside of Copenhagen, Denmark. The first castle at this site was built in 1560 by Frederik II but his son, Christian IV, demolished…
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The Twelve Earthly Branches are actually symbols used to tell time in the Lunar Calendar. Happy New Year! Today is New Year’s Day for people that celebrate the Lunar New Year, beginning the Year of the Dragon. The Garden of the Twelve Earthly Branches is located in the Ham Rong Mountains just outside the town…
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Sydney Tower Eye is a landmark that literally can’t be missed! The Sydney Tower Eye was opened to the public in 1981 and has been an integral part of the Sydney Skyline for the past 30 years. In 1998, a lightning rod was added to the top extending the tower’s overall height from 305 Meters…
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Weaving and braiding straw has played a part in Bahamian culture since the early 1940s. The original open air straw market in Nassau, Bahamas covered an entire block on Bay Street. Vendors in the market would craft baskets to carry fruit and weave nets for fish traps to support the island lifestyle. After World War…
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Marienplatz is Munich’s most famous plaza and is located in the heart of the Old Town. Marienplatz has been the physical and cultural center of Munich since 1158. It is currently named after the Marian Column located in the center of the square but it was originally call Schrannenplats or Grain Market Square because it…
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Long-tailed Macaques are also known as Crab Eating Macaques for obvious reasons. Long-tailed Macaques are found in Southeast Asia and usually live near water in wetlands, bamboo or mangrove forests. They spend most of their time in trees and only come down in search of food. They are commonly seen in plantations, gardens and fields…
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Wat Pha Lat is a small serene jungle temple near Chiang Mai, Thailand. Wat Pha Lat is one of the lesser known temples in Chiang Mai but it is also one of my favorites mainly because it is isolated in the jungle which gives it a quiet and peaceful atmosphere. The translation of the temples…
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Some dunes at White Sand National Park move up to 30 feet per year. White Sands National Park is located in the northern end of the Chihuahuan Desert, about 50 miles east of Las Cruses, New Mexico. This bright white desert is the largest gypsum dune field in the world and it covers approximately 275…
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