The journal / Visions of Asia

Category: Buddhism

Ginkakuji in fall

Ginkakuji in fall: experiencing the Japanese essence

Writing about Kyoto is also writing about the Japanese essence, as the city is so much enshrined in traditional Japanese culture. As autumn paints the city in vibrant hues, Ginkakuji becomes a true embodiment of the Japanese essence. Fall gives to this garden which is already magnificent additional colors literally making the place an enchantment […]

Chinatown girls

Chinese New Year in Bangkok

Over the past five years, I managed to see a number of celebrations of Chinese new year in Bangkok. While similar to some degree to the traditional Chinese festival, they differ too. Indeed, the Thai version has a more marked Buddhist flavor to it. Of course, this goes together with the Thai syncretism and the […]

Two young girls in kimono

Japan: a visit to Sensoji shrine

When you visit Tokyo, a must visit if you are in the area of Asakusa is certainly Sensoji, the oldest shrine of the city. A visit to Sensoji shrine is not only the occasion of watching Japanese and their beliefs which intricates elements of Shintoism along with Buddhism. It is also the occasion of watching […]

Dragon and Tiger pagoda.

Dragon and Tiger pagoda

In my previous post, I mentioned about visting the Eslite bookstore. Thereafter, I decided to visit one of the main landmarks of Kaohsiung, namely the dragon and tiger pagoda. Built with two giant figures of the said animals through the mouth of which you must enter, this pagoda is another must-see in Kaohsiung. A bit […]

Barefoot in the park

Barefoot hiking in Shoushan national park

The route to Shoushan national park In my previous post, I mentioned that I first stopped at Formosa Boulevard station to take pics of the “Dome of light”. The moment I left my hotel, I decided that this hike would be made barefoot or at least without shoes. After checking the route to Shoushan national […]

3 Buddhas

Wat Sanam Chai – An unknown ruin of Thai history

Wat Sanam Chai, a temple in ruins in the city of Suphanburi, is an interesting visit, far from the throngs of tourists in the neighboring Ayutthaya. Suphanburi is a city of historical significance as it is located on the direct pathway for invading armies from Burma. That’s why a number of battles were fought on […]

Hua Lamphong train station in Bangkok – Memory of times to be no more

  Where some backpackers might be familiar with the Hua Lamphong train station, in Bangkok, most people ignore this wonderful station. It is a rich location for street photography and, depending on the time of day, the colors can be absolutely stunning (see the gallery above). It was recently decided to move that station away […]

Nong Ping incense

The Giant Buddha of Hong Kong

A big curiosity of Lantau is the Giant Buddha of Nong Ping (also called Tian Tan Buddha). A famous landmark in Hong Kong, it is a place especially frequented by Asian visitors (Westerners do it more because it is a “must do”). How to get there? The most convenient (and expensive!): the cable car Situated […]

Ayutthaya and its marvels

One of my preferred cities in Thailand was Ayutthaya. About one hour drive from Bangkok, it exuded history at every angle. Although a very touristy place, it is also a place which contains an extraordinary calm and peacefulness, far from the bustling Bangkok, for example. Contributing to that feeling is probably the numerous ruins that […]