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Showing posts from January, 2011

Sunday at Sensoji Temple

The Grand Kaminarimon Gate Learning to navigate around Tokyo using the subway system was a liberating experience. I could explore with no qualms of getting lost in this mega city. The possibilities were endless. Except for the fact that I would get tired sooner rather than later because I was trying to do too much in one day. In the morning I strolled up and down Omotesando, shopping for gifts at Oriental Bazaar and checking out the Hiroshige exhibition at the Ota Memorial Museum of Art. Refreshed and rested after a big lunch, I took the subway across town to Asakusa to see Sensoji Temple once more. Nakamise Street Sensoji Temple is the oldest temple in Tokyo, dating back to 628.  The Grand Kaminarimon Gate leads visitors to temple grounds. This is a favorite spot for meeting friends or photo ops with the massive red lantern in the background. Nakamise Street extends 250 meters from the gate to the temple. It is lined on each side with tempting stores but on this Sunday, it was impo

2010 Travel Highlights

Zion National Park, Utah        Poulnabrone, Western Ireland                                                         City Center, Las Vegas  In 2010 I traveled to (what for me) were uncharted territories like Western Ireland, El Nido Resorts, Palawan, and Zion National Park. I was awed by the incredible natural scenery of these places. In Roxas City, I was moved by the schoolchildren at Conrado Barrios Elementary School who were wonderfully responsive during our impromptu Q&A and how happy they were with the prizes they received for giving the correct answer to our math and history questions. We marveled at the works of art at the Aria Hotel and City Center in Las Vegas. In Tokyo, I learned to go around town by using the subway system and it felt terrific to explore confidently and have no worries about getting lost in this mega city. And in Ko Olina and Lake Tahoe, I understood what it means to slow down and take notice of the beauty and serenity

Travel Destinations for 2011

El Nido, Palawan, Philippines The lists are out and the hot spots for 2011 have been picked by Lonely Planet, Frommer's, The New York Times and National Geographic Traveler. Are there any places you'd like to see in 2011 from these lists? Lonely Planet 10 Best Value Destinations for 2011 LP put together this list of places where the traveler's dinero can go a long way: Bangladesh, Nicaragua, Washington D.C., Paris, Namibia, Philippines, Argentina, Naples, Ukraine, and Syria.  http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bangladesh/travel-tips-and-articles/76216?affil=fb-fan Frommer's Top Destinations for 2011 Cliffs of Moher, Western Ireland Frommer's authors and editors picked these winners as their top destinations for 2011: Rio de Janeiro, Santiago in Chile, Puerto Viejo in Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, Taipei, Hokkaido, Ponza and the Pontine Islands in Italy, Kent Coast in England, Stockholm, Doha, Cesme Peninsula in Turkey, Atlanta, Nahanni National Park in Canada