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Travel Essayist

This is a personal travel journal filled with captivating photographs and stories, chronicling my adventures across various corners of the world over the past few decades.

- Travel Essayist

A Day Trip to Joshua Tree National Park

A Day Trip to Joshua Tree National Park

After a short drive from Palm Springs, I arrived at the entrance gate of the Joshua Tree National Park to spend a better part of the day exploring it. A Day Trip to Joshua Tree National Park A Day Trip to Joshua Tree National Park A Day Trip to Joshua Tree National Park Joshua Tree National Park is a beautiful and unique place located in the southeastern part of...

Giza Pyramids

Across Egypt – From Cairo to Aswan

There are a few epic trips I will never forget and this is one of them. It was nearly a quarter of a century ago now, so many details escape me, but I still have the analogue photographs/film prints I was able to digitize and some scrapbook items left. I flew on Egypt Air from New York City JFK airport to Cairo non-stop, and spend a couple of days in Cairo visiting...

Stellenbosch Wineries in South Africa

Stellenbosch Wineries in South Africa

After an early morning visit to the Cape of Good Hope, we took a full-day tour of wineries in Stellenbosch. The weather was stellar, with nothing but sun and beautiful views all around us. Stellenbosch is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa and is known for its wine production. There are many wineries located in and around Stellenbosch that offer...

Cape Of Good Hope, On The Atlantic Coast Of The Cape Peninsula In South Africa

Cape Of Good Hope, On The Atlantic Coast Of The Cape Peninsula In South Africa

Cape Of Good Hope, On The Atlantic Coast Of The Cape Peninsula In South Africa Early in the morning, I drove to the Cape Of Good Hope with a tour guide as part of a full-day tour of the area, mainly Stellenbosch Wineries. It was a sunny day, but as you would expect, given the location, a very windy day. After paying an entrance fee, we parked and walked over to a...

Zenkล-ji Temple, Nagano, Japan

Zenkล-ji Temple, Nagano, Japan

Nagano is just about an hour away from Tokyo by Shinkansen. Quick and easy trip to see Zenkล-ji Temple. This Buddhist temple was built in the 7th century, and the modern city of Nagano began as a town built around this temple. Prepare yourself for crowds as it is a popular place to visit, but well worth it. It is a pretty big temple complex, and there are many shops...

Visit to Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca Near Puno, Peru

Visit to Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca Near Puno, Peru

During my trek across Peru, I briefly visited Uros Islands, located a short boat ride from Puno. This place is home to Uru or Uros, an indigenous people of Peru and Bolivia. They live on approximately – and still growing – 120 self-fashioned floating islands on Lake Titicaca near Puno. It was an exciting and unusual experience, but I am thankful for...

Uruguay: Historic Quarter of Colonia Del Sacramento

Uruguay: Historic Quarter of Colonia Del Sacramento

When you are in Buenos Aires, you really should make a day trip to Colonia del Sacramento. It is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Rรญo de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is one of the oldest towns in Uruguay. To get there, you can take one of three ferries leaving from Buenos Aires, Argentina: “Buquebus,” “Seacat Colonia,” or...

Tsuzumi-mon Gate at JR Kanazawa Station East

Tsuzumi-mon Gate at JR Kanazawa Station East

Everything looks like a typical Japanese train station when arriving from Osaka on a shinkansen to JR Kanazawa Station. Kanazawa gets a lot of snow each winter, so a large roof covers the station building to prevent train stoppages due to accumulated snow within the station. But the real treat is just outside. Itโ€™s called Tsuzumi-mon Gate at JR Kanazawa Station East...

Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, Peru

Train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, Peru

If you cannot or simply donโ€™t want to take a trek across Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, there is always a train option. Trains from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, Peru, take around 1h 31m and cover a distance of approximately 43 km. There are two services currently available, one by PeruRail and Inca Rail; I took PeruRail. It was a comfortable trip in spacious...

The Perfect Little Town in Spain

The Perfect Little Town in Spain

This would be my favourite town to retire toโ€ฆ Sitges in Spain has been recognized as one of the most charming towns and prestigious on the Catalan coast and enjoys a mild and temperate microclimate. It’s just 35km southwest of Barcelona, backed by the mountainous Parc Natural del Garraf. It’s known for its Mediterranean beaches and seafront promenade...