Street vendor at Lajpat Nagar Central Market in Delhi, India, sells colored powder for Diwali celebration. Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is one of the most important Hindu holidays in India. In the northern part of the country, the powder is used to make designs called Rangoli. While occasionally made by hand, … Read more
My original visit to the island-state of Penang, Malaysia, was one of the most culturally rewarding experiences in all of my travels. The architecture in the UNESCO World Heritage capital city of George Town was simply stunning. Even more fascinating were the traditional artisans of George Town, who continue to make beaded shoes, Songkok hats, … Read more
Front facade of a Chinese Shophouse in Penang, Malaysia. This is a prime example of the “Southern Chinese Eclectic” architectural style preferred by Southern Chinese who were brought to Malaysia to work in George Town and in the tin mines in Perak. Built between 1840 and 1910, it is constructed of brick with an outer … Read more
Chinese Shophouse Row in George Town, on the island of Penang, Malaysia. The “Early Straits” eclectic architectural style of this block of buildings signals that they were likely built between 1890 and 1910. Such shophouses began to appear in the Old Town district of George Town in the 1790’s. Initially, they were built of wood … Read more
This past October, I flew to the Philippines, to attend the Travel Blog Exchange Conference, officially known as TBEX in Manila 2016. My association with TBEX began back in 2009, when an email between six travel blogger friends became the impetus for the first get-together in Chicago. There were barely 100 people at that event. … Read more
