I have been to Los Angeles a number of times yet I had never been to the downtown area. When I first came to LA, in 1996, the Downtown area was still off the map for tourists. It was the America that you heard on the news, with crime riddled streets and Americas largest skid […]
In Pictures: The Taj Mahal – India
If there is one building that carries a load of expectation on its shoulders (roof? dome?), that would be the Taj Mahal. Only good is ever spoken of this Wonder of the World, so I naturally wondered if it would live up to its expectations. [First glimpse of the Taj Mahal] Walking through the gate […]
Notes on Miami: The Capital of the Americas
Going To Miami It wasn’t my original plan to visit Miami on this trip to the USA. I was planning to road trip from Chicago back to Newport, RI, where I have based myself. It turns out that there is hardly a hostel between Chicago and Newport, so my accommodation budget was facing a blowout […]
The five foot way of Georgetown, Penang
Georgetown in Malaysia is one of best preserved colonial cities in Southeast Asia. The streets of Georgetown are lined with shophouses from the 19th and early 20th century in varying states of conservation. [Georgetown Covered Walkway] Every shophouse has a five foot way (kaki-lima), which is a sheltered walkway in front of each shop front. […]
Bandung was once “Paris of Java” – What is it now?
Bandung in Indonesia was once known as “Paris of Java”. I saw a few T-shirts with the proclamation “Paris Van Java”, but other than that there is not much evidence to suggest that this was once a grand city in the resemblance of the French capital. [Jalan Asia Afrika] Bandung was once a grand city, […]
Notes on Shanghai – old and new
[Notes from my visit to Shanghai in November 2008.] Shanghai was once known as the Paris of the East. Today it is referred to as the Pearl of the Orient. Along the Shanghai river front is where you can see the best of Shanghai’s past and future in one spot. [Shanghai old and new. A […]
