The Faces of Myanmar/Burma

In 2014, I traveled to Myanmar/Burma for the first time. Since after, I became to like this country very much. The things that really impressed me are the people, food, culture and the countless temples around Burma.   

When I first stepped onto the Burmese soil, the very first thing that caught my attention was the yellowish white paste on the faces of the women, children or even young men. This yellowish white paste is called Thanaka and it is made from ground bark. This unique feature of Burma's culture is used as a cosmetic to beautify skin and also to protect skin from the sun.

Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand

The moment we released the floating lantern into the sky, my heart became heavy, shortness of breath, ear was blocked and saw things in slow motion; standing in that mind blowing scene, I had to remind myself to get back to work as in start taking pictures of the thousands floating lanterns. That was my unforgettable experience during the Yi Peng Festival back in 2013.

Yi Peng, the Festival of Lights is celebrated on the full moon day in the 2nd month of Lanna lunar calendar in Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of former Lanna Kingdom. The people celebrate this festival by releasing the floating lanterns into the sky; the release is to get rid of their bad luck and make a wish for a better future.

A Scenic Hike in Santorini, Greece

Santorini (Thira), an unique crescent-shaped island set in the Aegean Sea and this beautiful place is almost everyone's dream destination for a honeymoon or holiday.

There are quite a number of activities to do during your stay in this island; and the popular one is to take a scenic hike along the caldera of Santorini island. The hiking distance is around 10km, and usually it takes about 3 to 5 hrs depending on your pace and how many times you stop to rest and take photos.

7 Places to See Autumn Leaves in Kyushu, Japan

Autumn is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Japan. Viewing of Autumn leaves is as popular as viewing of Cherry Blossoms in Spring. During the peak, the leaves turn red and yellow making Japan even more beautiful. The best way to enjoy the autumn color and fallen leaves is to walk around the park or visit a temple.

These are 7 picturesque places for the view of colorful autumn foliage in Kyushu.

Travel Journal: A Land of Countless Temples and Shrines (2006 Kyoto . 京都)

After Fuji, we went to the land of countless temples and shrines, Kyoto, also the former capital of Japan. The people in Kyoto said, "Even if you visit a temple/shrine a day in Kyoto, you still cannot finish all the temples/shrines in a year". This is true because there are over thousands of temples/shrines in Kyoto itself. 

The most efficient and comfortable way to get from Fuji to Kyoto is to take a Shinkansen also known as the Bullet Train. It was my first time trying out Shinkansen and the experience was great. Personally I would prefer Shinkansen over domestic flight.

Travel Journal: The Views of Mount Fuji (2006 Hakone . 箱根)

After a day in Tokyo, we traveled to Hakone for the volcanic valley and also to catch the view of nearby Mount Fuji. Hakone is a town located near Mount Fuji where you can enjoy hot spring, traditional Japanese inn and the beautiful nature; and it is a very popular destination for a short trip from Tokyo.

First Stop, we went to Lake Ashinoko or Lake Ashi, a crater lake with views of Mount Fuji. Our main activity there was taking a sightseeing boat and cruise around the scenic lake. 

Travel Journal: A Spring Day in Tokyo (2006 Tokyo . 東京)

Japan is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. What I love about this unique place is their language, culture, food and nature scenery. Furthermore, with their 4 distinct seasons, you can visit this amazing place any time of the year.

In 2006, I visited Japan in spring season to witness the sights of cherry blossoms, also known as Sakura. In order to view the cherry blossoms blooming, you need some planning and luck especially if your trip is short. The best time to enjoy Hanami in Tokyo is around late March to Mid April.