2 of the 12 giant guardians protecting the temple: Maiyarap and Wirunchambang Welcome to Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha in English)–the most sacred Buddhist temple in all of Thailand. Construction began in the late 1700s. Since it’s creation, future dynasties and kings continued to work on this incredible structure, to gain religious…
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Right off the coast of Thailand in Phuket, you’ll find Naka Island. It’s only accessible by boat, so gettin there is half the fun. It’s right next door to Koh Naka Noi Island, where some of the rarest South Sea pearls are cultivated. The water is clear, the sand is soft and it’s about as…
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Welcome to Krung Thep Maha Nakhon! (otherwise known as Bangkok) That’s right, Bangkok’s real name is 168 letters long. Technically, it’s less of a name and more of a descriptive phrase that means City of Angels. This wonderfully busy city is and endless mashup of new and old. Perhaps most known for its street life,…
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Welcome to Joshua Tree National Park in southern California. It’s known for and named after its bristled yucca palms. That’s right. Joshua trees are the largest yucca in the world. So why exactly do we call them Joshua trees? It came from Mormon settlers in the 1800s as they made their way through the Mojave…
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Amer Fort, perched atop the hilltops of Amer, Rajasthan, sits one of the most striking places I visited in India. When I went to the Taj Mahal, I knew it’d be great. But this old palace was such an unexpected surprise. In the valley below the old walls sits Maota Lake, reflecting the yellow structure.…
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Let’s keep the Jaipur tour going… Situated in the middle of the world’s largest (and most colorful) traffic circle, Jawahar, you’ll find Patrika Gate. Unlike most sites in India, Patrika Gate is young. Built in only 2016. The nine different arched entrances depict the 9 regions of Rajasthan. Walk inside the pink structure and you’ll…
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Welcome to Jaipur! My most favorite and final stop on the Golden Triangle. The colors, the food, the art–there’s so much to love about this place. It’s known as the Pink City. Probably because most of the buildings are pink. It’s also known as the Paris of India, which makes me chuckle in only the…
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We all learned the story in history class–that the Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to honor his wife Mumtaz, who died in childbirth. What I didn’t know was how little of the interior you actually get to see as a tourist. There are over 20 rooms that have been permanently locked.…
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Don’t listen to or trust people who tell you not to visit India. There is so much to see, to learn and appreciate. There aren’t dull seconds–every moment you’ll spot at least one thing you’d never imagine–shocking to Western sensibilities. And I mean that in only the best ways. It may come as no surprise,…
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In 2020 (yes that’s right), we all made our way to India for my sister-in-law’s wedding. What a fascinating, beautiful country, filled with fun traditions. Here are a few highlights of the customs we were lucky enough to experience: Color is important in India. Each has its own meaning–different than those we associate in the…
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