Author Archives: farflungistan

Palace in the Sky

The muddy red clay trails leading into the park are quiet. It looks like the mid-day rain has kept people away. There are only a few obstacles to contend with here in Sigiriya this muddy afternoon. These include the slippery metal stairs, muddy trails and the small pest problem.  Snake holes are everywhere, but signsContinue reading “Palace in the Sky”

Dreams of Gold

This time last year I spent my last remaining hours of 2012 at a hostel in the center of Kuala Lumpur.  KL is nice, but this is my third and final visit in 2012.   Sri Lanka is new and there’s so much to see.  These pictures make me want to go back sooner rather thanContinue reading “Dreams of Gold”

Heavenly Site in Morelia

Pastel flower chandeliers, gold, pink, red, and orange dominate the massive interior of Morelia’s most vibrant church.  Several European styles are at play here, but the color scheme is genuinely Mexican. Visitors arrive and pray for good health, fortune, and protection from evil in high hopes that the Virgin of Guadalupe is listening.  It’s aContinue reading “Heavenly Site in Morelia”

12 Fiestas before Christmas

The church bells ring again at the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Salud in the former capital of the Purepecha nation.  This time it is the signal for a group of women wearing embroidered dresses and fastened with long colorful braids to begin dancing in the center of the church courtyard.  It is one ofContinue reading “12 Fiestas before Christmas”

The Sacred Tree

Many religions of the world use a “Tree of Life” symbol when depicting scriptures and teachings of their book of prayers.  Tree-shaped clay sculptures, or the Arbol de le vida, represent the connections between the living and the dead, man and earth, and the heavens and the underworld in Mexico. The colorfully painted clay sculpturesContinue reading “The Sacred Tree”

House of the Wind

Tzintzuntzan is the former ancient capital city of the once powerful P’urhépecha people. Five semi-circular pyramids or yácatas sit above the quiet town center. The hill offers visitors panoramic views of Lago de Patzcuaro and park signs surrounding the site tell of a history of the area before the Spanish arrived. Many visitors experience aContinue reading “House of the Wind”

Beauty that must die in Tzintzuntzan

The fallen will always be remembered by loved one’s living in Mexican villages like Tzintzuntzan. Family and friends are free to fashion family plots as they see fit.  Cemeteries here are void of high maintenance.  There ar no green lawns, but instead there are colorful flowers, pictures, and personal offering left inside plots of theContinue reading “Beauty that must die in Tzintzuntzan”

Patzcuaro: Pueblo Magico

The Mexican state of Michoacán stretches all the way from the Pacific Coast east through the colonial heartland of Mexico. Patzcuaro was once the capital of Michoacán and looks very much like it did after the Spanish rebuilt it over 500 years ago.  The area, with its interesting history, diverse culture, landscape and geography, makes forContinue reading “Patzcuaro: Pueblo Magico”

Watch Your Step

Kashgar’s Sunday Livestock Market experience is equivalent to going back in time. Horses waiting for a test drive and Bactrian Camels seemingly striking a pose for the cameras are a couple of highlights for curious visitors. This place is all business, so in the very least try to stay clear of the path of gallopingContinue reading “Watch Your Step”

Details just don’t matter

Take a close look at this picture.  Observe the hindu symbols and how the Arabic script and short phases do not flow from tile to tile.  They must not make any sense for those who can read them.  The how ironic is this wall of tiles? The site is a beautiful and mysterious place toContinue reading “Details just don’t matter”