Bali | Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel

PHOTO: Gorgeous Green Rice Terraces in Bali Invite Contemplation

Published April 15, 2013 | By Barbara Weibel

Posted in Daily Photo |

Tagged Bali, cultural travel, culture, Indonesia, photography, rice terrace, Travel |

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PHOTO: Dawn Mists Rise Over Pura Ulun Danau Bratan Temple in Bedugul, Bali

Published April 1, 2013 | By Barbara Weibel

Posted in Daily Photo |

Tagged Bali, Bedugul, cultural travel, culture, Indonesia, photography, Pura Ulun Danau Bratan Temple, Travel |

1 Comment

PHOTO: Wooden Boats Hewn From a Single Log Line the Black Sand Beaches of Amed in Northeastern Bali

Published March 30, 2013 | By Barbara Weibel

Posted in Daily Photo |

Tagged Amed, Bali, cultural travel, culture, Indonesia, photography, Travel, wooden boats |

2 Comments

Sony Releases “A Night In” World Music Collection

Published December 20, 2008 | By Barbara Weibel

Music is one of the joys of traveling. In SE Asia I discovered Cambodian wedding songs. Hindu legends set to music charmed me in Bali. And music in Tanzania and Zanzibar was an amazing melange of drums, rhythm, and harmonizing voices. In years past, the only way to sample music around the world was to travel to these places. Fortunately, this genre of music has become very popular over the past few years, thus collections are more readily available in the U.S.

worldmusic One example is Sony’s new “A Night In” World Music Collection. Each of the collection’s ten CD’s features the music of a different country. “A Night in Cuba” features the outstanding singers and songwriters of Salsa, Son, and other Latin rhythms, while “A Night In Italy” presents the most exquisite voices of opera. Tango is the focus of “A Night In Argentina” and “A Night In Puerto Rico” encompasses the Afro-Carribbean rhythms of the Salsa, Plena, and Bomba styles. Romantic melodies and quirky jazz are the basis for “A Night In France” and “A Night In Spain” showcases artists who have Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized |

Tagged A Night In World Music, Argentina, Bali, Brazil, Cambodia, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Italy, Mexico, Music, Puerto Rico, Sony, Spain, Tanzania, Travel, world, Zanzibar |

Under The Spell Of Singapore

Published June 26, 2007 | By Barbara Weibel

I am enchanted. I am captivated. From the moment I arrived this city/state it felt like home – it was instantly familiar to me. No matter where I wander I seem to instinctively know where I am without having to look at a map. Alone I have walked its streets until midnight, carrying expensive photo equipment on my back without feeling the slightest apprehension. Singapore is one of those places where people come for a visit and stay forever. It is not hard to understand why:

Singapore is safe. There is virtually no crime because it is a small island state – criminals cannot easily escape. Plus, the penalties for crime are steep. They regularly carry out the death penalty for drug trafficking. Yet I haven’t see any police presence during my stay.
English is the first language in Singapore
Singapore is multi-cultural and diverse
The cost of living is reasonable and the quality of life is high
Singapore is modern, with all the same conveniences found in the United States
The sewers and toilets work and the city does not smell like most Asian cities
It tap water is safe to drink
The people of Singapore are exceedingly friendly and welcoming
The weather is warm year-round, without excessive heat most of the year
The residency and migration requirements are lenient
It is a highly moral and ethical society – everywhere there are signs that the population wants to do what is correct and right. There is no litter or graffiti in Singapore. There are no homeless. No houses of ill repute to which the government turns a blind eye. Even the schoolchildren, when interviewed on TV, are explaining how it is wrong to “bully” on the Internet.

With only one more day in Singapore I tried to cram as much into today as possible, beginning with a visit to the famous Sultan Mosque on Arab Street where, much to my surprise, I was permitted to go inside. Most mosques are off-limit to non-Muslims, but this one allows visitors to view the main worship hall from the entryway and corridor surrounding it.

Sultan Mosque on Arab Street

Continue reading →

Posted in SE Asia travel |

Tagged Ancient Civilizations Museum, Arab Street, Around The World, Bali, Chinatown, Esplanade Theatres On The Bay, Free Spirit, Kim Seng Fountain, Malaysia Center, Merlion Park, photos, Singapore, St. Andrews Cathedral, Sultan Mosque, Travel, Victoria Theatre |

Three Words

Published June 4, 2007 | By Barbara Weibel

When I began this trip I decided I would select three words that best described each country I visited. Initially I was going to wait until the end of the trip and compile them all into one post, but I have decided to do this immediately upon departing each country, as the reasons for selecting those particular words will be fresh in my mind. So, here goes for the countries I have visited to date:

VIETNAM

Industrious (With the possible exception of Hanoi, people were bustling about everywhere I went – busy selling, buying, doing. Not surprising, since Vietnam is currently the fastest growing economy in the world)
Emerging (rather than poor)
Stuck (There is severe mistrust between the multitude of ethnic groups that inhabit Vietnam and abiding oppression of the non-Viet peoples by the government; there is distinct dislike between North and South Vietnamese – I heard over and over again from northerners that they wouldn’t want their daughters to marry a slow, stupid southerner and from southerners I heard repeatedly how northerners couldn’t be trusted; and there is severe corruption in the country at the government level. The result is that Vietnam is identity-less – the people themselves do not yet have a feeling for who they are as a nationality, much less a national identity. They are well and truly stuck.)

BALI:

Lush (Greenery and lush jungle was everywhere)
Spiritual (The most beautiful temples I have seen anywhere in the world)
Beautiful (A feast for the eyes in a small island that has such diversity – dense jungle, towering active volcanoes, colorful offshore reefs, and lovely beaches)

CAMBODIA: Continue reading →

Posted in Indonesia travel, SE Asia travel |

Tagged Around The World, Bali, Cambodia, New Zealand, Thailand, Three Words, Travel, Vietnam |