Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, would be pleased to see this photo taken at the Chinese Lantern Festival in Philadelphia. The handmade lanterns represent soldiers in his impressive and imposing Terracotta Army, platoons of clay soldiers constructed to protect him in the afterlife. They are just a handful of the hundreds of lanterns illuminating…
I had the pleasure of trying Takoyaki (“octopus balls”), a popular Japanese street food, yesterday at the Mitsuwa Summer Festival in Edgewater, New Jersey. The festival, an Asian food lover’s delight, featured many foods I enjoy and some I had never heard of, including this truly delicious one. Crispy on the outside and soft and…
Visiting Wawayanda State Park–located in Sussex County, New Jersey–almost always makes me happy (except for when I spot a bear or two). The hiking/mountain biking trails are great and offer something for everyone regardless of ability, and the park is simply gorgeous. There are wetlands, as seen in this photo, and a lovely lake that I’ve…
The Gold Museum (Museo del Oro) in Bogotá, Colombia, has numerous displays of gorgeous pre-Colombian gold. This is just one of them. This display is in a special vault, where visitors are treated to an experiential journey back to pre-Hispanic Colombia. The lights spin around the room while music, combined with ancient ceremonial prayers, plays….
I visited Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, the Spanish fortress in Cartagena, Colombia, during a day tour–and I really enjoyed my time there. It was a fascinating place to visit and photograph. After the tour, as I was walking away, I noticed how the Colombian flag was blowing in the wind over the castle and it…
Salento, a town in Colombia’s coffee country, is frozen in time. They even have a sign that says so. And as you can see, it has its share of characters–cowboys included. Here are two I spotted sitting at a bar in the town plaza. I loved the looks on their faces and, of course, the…
I saw this watermelon vendor, sitting in front of Café Havana on Calle Media Luna in Cartagena, several times day while there recently. Both he and his watermelon looked sweet, and I looked forward to buying some and getting to know him. He was only there during the day, when the cafe was closed. He…
This sand dune at Taroa Beach in Punta Gallinas, Colombia, really blew my mind. It is so breathtaking and other-worldly that I just stood there for a few minutes when I first saw it. Then, like my fellow travelers, I took a few steps and left my footprints behind… Shortly thereafter, they began to vanish…
The palma de cera, wax palm tree (ceroxylon quindiuense), is Colombia’s national tree and a beautiful sight to see! They’re found in the high-altitude Cocora Valley, located near the town of Salento, in the department of Quindio. This is one of the only places in the world to see them in their natural habitat. I…
These soldiers, guarding the presidential palace (his official home and workplace) in Bogotá, looked intense (as they tend to do no matter where in the world you encounter them). And I enjoyed watching them stand guard. I like how official they look. Also, it’s always nice to see where el presidente lives. Unfortunately, I didn’t get…
