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History

History

Large home – 414 years old. Six careful owners.

We recently watched a fascinating documentary about Kumamoto Castle on the Curiosity Stream channel. This impressive Japanese dwelling for six generations of Japanese monarchy has survived battles, earthquakes . . and more earthquakes, the most recent by another Kumamoto Earthquake in 2016.  The last quake unearthed unexpected damage to the building, to the point of…

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Be here and now

When people outside of Asia think of Buddhism, they tend to think about just philosophy and meditation. Buddhists are often said not to have gods, wars or empires. Their religion isn’t about ritual or belief, but a dedicated exploration into what causes suffering and how to end it through meditation and compassion. Although there’s some…

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This is not a reproduction

Regular readers of this site will know that we are history freaks:  the older, the better - and the more amazing.  In every corner of the world, historical delights can be found around every corner.  But, some locations in the world specialise in history:  their efforts to delight and inform visitors range from the basic…

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A warm welcome from the Phlegraean Fields

If you yawn because you think you've seen every kind tourist haunt, here's a place that's really smoking! There is nothing remotely Elysian about the Phlegræan Fields; nothing sylvan, nothing green. The Fields, which lie on the north shore of the Bay of Naples in Italy, are part of the caldera of a volcano that is…

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The Out of Order Warriors

A king who offended the all-powerful Emperor, and then rebelled against him, but failed. How do these dramatic events in China's history link to the finding of 4000 buried miniature terracotta warriors discovered in Jiangsu Province, China? The ancient city of Pengcheng was located near today's Xuzhou in Jiangsu province, and the museum displays 190…

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Aussie hotel floats to North Korea

Hope springs eternal, and this idea almost made it.  But the winds of change, and the tides – literally – sealed its fate.  It’s a long and winding tale. The Hotel Haegumgang is a floating hotel that began operations in Queensland, Australia, was moved to Vietnam, and is currently docked at Mount Kumgang on the east coast of North Korea. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, it…

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Buy land in Thailand

Thailand has everything you want from a holiday paradise – golden sandy beaches, year-round warmth, exotic cuisine and culture, friendly people and a low cost of living. It’s also easy to get to from anywhere in the world and has close and friendly ties with the West. Thailand was part of the “hippy trail” from the 1960s…

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A stroke of genius

Having created the artwork for all of Ill Considered’s previous albums, the Dutch artist Vincent de Boer took on a unique project to invert the role of music and images in his collaborations with the London-based improvisational jazz ensemble. First, Boer hand-drew thousands of images to create an abstract animation, with the visuals giving the…

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No falter Malta

The country of Malta has been very successful in its efforts to manage Covid-19.  It is one of the safest places to be right now, and it is cautiously opening up its borders to responsible travelers. But, Malta is still a mystery to many.  And here's your chance to discover all of its wonders.  The…

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No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to dine

You may not have heard of him, but there may have actually been a James Bond, of sorts. Bond loves women, style, intrigue, action and women.  And so did Richard Sorge, a German journalist and Soviet military intelligence officer who was active before and during World War II and worked undercover as a German journalist in…

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To 2 2 To 222

Here, our intelligent and inquisitive readers, is a short piece that will not tax your brain.  And, hopefully you'll enjoy it. In January 2021, a video of a particularly amusing flight announcement began circulating. The recording, captured at Munich Airport, has an automated airport voice announcing that passengers on flight LH 2222 to Toulouse should…

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Can you Lamu?

Here is a place that might be new for you - Lamu, Kenya.  Almost forgotten in time, Lamu Island is a port, city, and island just off the shore of Kenya in the Indian Ocean approximately 150 miles from Mombasa. It is a part of the East African country of Kenya. Lamu was founded in…

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Shore and be gone

A visit to one of Ireland’s many stunning castle hotels is at the top of many travelers’ lists. A stay at a castle hotel is an ornate trip back to the glory and decadence of times gone by. Within a stony castle hotel in Ireland, you’ll find a warm Irish welcome, surrounded by idyllic Irish…

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Behold! The ancient land of Cahokia

The United States of America is a place of many contrasts.  But, do you think it as of an ancient civilization that - 1000 years ago - had that parties that went on for days?  Likely not.  Thats Mexico, isn't it? Cohokia, was home to the largest pre-columbian city north of Mexico. The city was…

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Eat your way across Europe

One of the biggest pleasures of traveling Europe is the food. Every country has traditional and unique dishes to try, giving us the inspiration to spice up our own home cooking. While we can't get out to Europe's food markets to pick up culinary ideas and souvenirs, let us help you to taste your destination…

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