Himeji-jo is widely considered to be the best of Japan’s remaining original castles. UNESCO praises its masterful wooden construction and gleaming white walls. Locals lovingly call it the “White Egret Castle,” since the 400-year-old main keep perched atop a hill is said to resemble a bird in flight. Himeji is 100 kilometers from Osaka and […]
Destinations
A Guide to Hoi An, Vietnam’s Most Colorful Town
Of all the places I’ve visited in Southeast Asia, Hoi An, Vietnam is my favorite. Great swaths of hot pink bougainvillea blanket sunny yellow shop houses, which sit along dusty roads dotted with temples. The old town’s many coffee shops and chic boutiques hint at the bygone French colonial era. UNESCO has recognized the historic […]
How to Enjoy Three Days in Vientiane, Laos
I am not someone who is easily bored. I’m happy to amble along snapping photos and taking countless coffee breaks as long as there is something interesting to grab my attention along the way. That is probably why I enjoyed my three days in Vientiane, Laos so much. The city is compact with a limited […]
Hillwood Estate, One of DC’s Best Hidden Gems
I’ve visited many fine European palaces, and Hillwood Estate in Washington, DC, can compete with just about any of them. Hillwood was owned by Marjorie Merriweather Post, one of the richest women in America during her lifetime. She was the sole heir to the Post Cereal Company, which she later turned into General Foods. Marjorie […]
A Literary Tour of Concord, Massachusetts
Concord, Massachusetts was first settled by British pilgrims in 1635. The colonists eked out a living on land purchased from a local Native American tribe. Things took a dramatic turn in 1775 when British troops marched towards Concord planning to take control of the armory. But Paul Revere sounded the alarm on his famous ride […]