Piazza del Popolo is located at the end of Via del Corso, the straight road that runs through the center of Rome from Piazza Venezia at the base of Capitoline Hill, and stands at the northern gate of the Aurelian Walls (the walls that surrounded ancient Rome). Entering Piazza del Popolo from Via del [...]
Two kids laughed as they ran beside me as I cycled down a muddy dirt road. All around me were bright green rice fields with tall limestone karsts rising up above them, and white fluffy clouds drifting over in the sky. I was in the countryside surrounding the popular backpacker town of Vang Vieng in [...]
Wat Thammikarat is one of the lesser visited ruins in the ancient Siam capital of Ayutthaya, Thailand. It is believed that it actually predates the city of Ayutthaya, with parts of it possibly dating back to the 12 century. Today it is actually a working temple, and several newer buildings have been built around the [...]
The final part to our tour of Doi Inthanon National Park in Northern Thailand was to stop in at one of the minority hill tribe villages on the way back to Chiang Mai. The particular tribe that we would be visiting is the White Karen, which is characterized by the women who must wear all [...]
In 1862, two pioneers exploring the Western Otago region struck gold in the Shotover River. This was the start of the Shotover Canyon Gold Rush. Similar to the nearby Arrow River, the Shotover River was so rich in gold that miners came from all over New Zealand to claim their share of the riches, and [...]
We had spent most of the morning travelling from Chiang Mai and exploring Doi Inthanon National Park - the highest point in Thailand. Next on our tour was a visit to the twin royal pagodas of Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon. Located not far from the top of Doi Inthanon, the two pagodas were built to commemorate [...]
Pha That Luang isn't actually a temple, but a grand stupa (chedi) in the heart of Vientiane, and I think it deserves a post of it's own along side the temples of Laos. Walking up to Pha That Luang According to the Lao people, legend says that Pha That Luang was originally built [...]
After spending an afternoon in Florence to pick up our rental car two days prior, I couldn't wait to get back and explore more of this famous Italian art city. We were staying in a Tuscan villa about 30km to the south of Florence near Figline Valdarno, so rather than drive into the city and [...]
If you asked me what my favourite place in Italy is, I would probably give you a massive list of places. If you asked me what my favourite place in Tuscany is, that list wouldn't be much shorter. One town that would definitely be on that list is Siena - a place that I don't [...]
On my first day in Chiang Rai, Thailand, I decided to go and see some temples, and the first I came to was Wat Phra Singh. The ubosot (main shrine) at Wat Phra Singh Wat Phra Singh dates back to the 14th century when it was built by King Pra Chao Maha Proma. It [...]
