Consulting the Oracle

by Craig on November 19, 2009

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Sensō-ji is an ancient Buddhist temple located in Asakusa, Tokyo. It is the city’s oldest temple, and one of its most significant.

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Within the temple itself, and at many places on its approach, there are omikuji stalls. For a suggested donation of 100 yen, visitors may consult the oracle and divine answers to their questions.

Querents shake labelled sticks from enclosed metal containers and read the corresponding answers they retrieve from one of 100 possible drawers.

More stories and pictures from Japan.

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Faces of India

by Craig on November 4, 2009

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Spirit in the Desert

by Craig on October 29, 2009

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Uluru, the World Heritage Site formerly known as Ayers Rock, is one of the world’s most recognizable natural icons – and along with the Sydney Opera House, an international symbol for Australia.

The sandstone monolith is culturally significant to the Anangu aborigines, the traditional landowners of Uluru.

In 1873 surveyor William Gosse, on an expedition to plot the route for the Australian Overland Telegraph Line, “discovered” Uluṟu.

In a move also known as “sucking up to the boss,” Gosse named the monolith Ayers Rock in honour of the then-Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers.

One hundred and twenty years later, the Australian government adopted a dual naming policy, allowing places to use both the traditional Aboriginal name and the English name.

So today you can soak in the split personality of this oddly moving place, marveling at Uluru while staying at Ayers Rock Resort.

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More Uluru pictures here.

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Contemplating Angkor Wat

by Craig on October 27, 2009

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Siem Reap, Cambodia – Cambodian monks journey each year to Angkor Wat, near Siem Reap, for meditation, reflection and renewal.

The initial design of Angkor Wat’s main temple took place in the first half of the 12th century, during the reign of Suryavarman II, in the early 1100s. Originally a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu, it was built to serve as the Khmer Empire’s capital city.

In the late 13th century, Srindravarman deposed his father-in-law, King Jayavarman VIII, who was Hindu.

Srindravarman was an ordained Buddhist monk, so when he took power he converted the Khmer Empire’s official religion from Hindu to Buddhist – and the Temples of Angkor became Buddhist shrines.  They remain so today.

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More Angkor Wat pictures here.

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And What Do You Do During the Week?

October 22, 2009

Conor and his friends enjoy their annual pilgrimage to the Maryland Renaissance Festival, and frankly, so do I.
Is there a better place to people watch?
I wonder, though, what do these “enthusiasts” do during the week?  And where do they keep their costumes the rest of the year?

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Hill of Seven Colors

October 20, 2009

Purmamarca, Argentina – Jujuy, north of Salta, is Argentina’s northernmost province and it shares a rugged border with Bolivia. Life here moves at its own pace: Adobe villages bake beneath multicolored cliffs; llamas wander the foothills; and villagers seek shade under scraggly trees and towering cacti.
The road through the Quebrada de Humahuaca (Humahuaca Canyon) leads [...]

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Thai-Chinese Princess

October 15, 2009

Chiang Mai, Thailand – A young girl prepares to take the stage as part of a Chinese New Year celebration. Chiang Mai has deep historical and cultural ties with southwestern China.
Chiang Mai was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom (the kingdom of a million rice fields), which enjoyed a golden age throughout the [...]

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Riding a Volcano

October 13, 2009

Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador – Adventurous mountain bikers begin their decent of Cotopaxi just as the weather arrives.
For centuries local Andean Indians have honored Cotopaxi (“Throne of Moon”) as  a sacred mountain and worshiped it as the “rain sender” that made the land fertile.
Mountain bikers begin their descent near the summit, a place once revered [...]

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