Note: This article was first published by the East-West News Service in June 2024. The tuk-tuk driver reclined on a padded seat in the back of his motorized transport, neither a surrey nor a golf cart but something in between. “Hey, bong, nice to see you today,” he said as I passed, using the catch-all greeting soContinue reading “Phnom Penh Embraces a New Generation”
Tag Archives: Buddhism
A Spiritual Journey Through Vietnam
As published in July by the East-West News Service
94. Cambodia’s Incomparable Temples of Angkor
Once the largest city in Southeast Asia, Angkor is now a World Heritage Site of more than 1,000 ruins, beginning with Angkor Wat, a religious structure like no other.
93. Year of the Tiger: A Collection
As the lunar calendar turns, I realize that what really matters in my life are the relationships that I create and nurture.
81. A Spirited Stroll in Central Hanoi
Vietnam’s capital city serves up history and religion on a walk past West Lake to the Ba Dinh district.
68. Culture and History on Vietnam’s Central Coast
A 1,200-year-old Hindu shrine complex, a legacy of the ancient Champa empire, is just one highlight of the heritage of Nha Trang.
60. Deer Me! Stepping Back to Nara
Sika deer are national treasures in Nara, an ancient Japanese capital whose grand Buddhist temples and Shinto shrine are the highlights of a visit.
59. Stepping Back: Pre-pandemic Kyoto
A stroll through the tranquil lanes of Japan’s imperial city reveals beautiful gardens, marvelous temples and a people in love with their heritage.
53. My Year in Photos: Fifteen Favorites
A selection of the author’s photos, each of them a memory from a year of Travels in Vietnam.
44. Stepping Back: Yogyakarta
The author reflects on his long-ago visit to central Java, especially the great religious monuments of Borobudur and Prambanan and the vibrant culture.
41. The Lady Buddha
The bodhisattva Quan Âm has a following in Vietnam comparable to the Buddha himself. Sometimes called ‘Lady Buddha,’ her image is found at places of worship throughout the country.
14. The Sacred and the Profane
A celebration of the Tet holiday, in a Mekong Delta village, is a magical mystery tour of Buddhist spirituality, drinking games, unthinkable foods and cockfights.
7. Chiang Mai, City of Temples
Ancient tradition collides with modern tourism on a “visa run” to northern Thailand. From temple to pagoda, the Buddhist shrines are ever fascinating.
4. Learning the City
A brief tour introduces some of the sights of Ho Chi MInh City, including the Bitexco Tower, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Central Post Office and the Jade Emperor Pagoda.
Travels in Vietnam 