Destinations

Ramayana Ballet in Bali

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Spirit of Women & The Womens’ Association of North Ubud present a traditional dance called the Ramayana Ballet, telling the timeless story of Rama and Sita. It is performed at the Lotus Pond, behind the Cafe Lotus on the Ubud’s main street. The Ramayana, of course, is an ancient Indian Sanskrit epic. Consisting of 24,000 verses in seven […]

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Bali’s Monkey Forest

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The monkeys in the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal are long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicuiaris). Within long-tailed macaque societies, females are typically born into and remain with a single troop for life. In contrast, adult and sub-adult males may migrate between troops — young adult males typically leave their natal troop between the ages of 4 and 8 years. […]

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The Venice Food Market

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When in Rome, do as the Romans do, but when in Venice, do as the Venetians do: Get thee to the food market along the Grand Canal. It is full of locals and is an integral part of their life. [imagebrowser id=34]  The Mercato del Pesce—the fish market—is a fabulous place to browse for seafood, produce, […]

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Auzzie Hazards

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Australia can be a rough country, and visitors, like residents, are expected to take responsibility for themselves. Common-sense precautions are generally all that’s required, but be aware of the following challenges: Kangaroos: In southern Victoria you might find yourself golfing with a kangaroo. Fore! While golf partners themselves don’t constitute a hazard, inattention does. Remember to […]

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Wandering in Bali

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Spud Hilton, Travel Editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, says, “Like renting a frangipani-scented hut, kicking back and sharing the sensory wonderland that is Bali with a bunch of your fast friends — if your friends knew how to tell really good stories.”

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The Western Med: See before you go

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From megalithic ruins that predate Stonehenge by 1,500 years to a futuristic Arts and Sciences complex designed by one of the world’s most celebrated contemporary architects, from Tunisian carpets to rococo cathedrals, and from the Moorish marvel that is the Alhambra to what some believe is the Holy Grail—the western Mediterranean is home to many […]

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Dambulla Cave Temples — Sri Lanka

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[nggallery id=33] Dambulla was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Its five caves, or shrine rooms, are part of a vast cavern with more than 80 documented caves in a massive rock that rises 350 feet above the plain. The caves were occupied by Buddhist hermits at least from the reign of King Vattagamani […]

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Wandering in Costa Rica

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Wandering in Costa Rica evokes the rainforest: brilliant butterflies and twisting lianas, poison dart frogs and tropical quetzals, fearsome snakes and opulent orchids. And it introduces Ticos: determined farmers, a menacing outlaw, kindly caregivers, a machete-wielding jungle guide, and a Monkey Whisperer, to name a few. The intimate voices …

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China’s Terracotta Warriors: The First Emperor’s Legacy

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The Asian Art Museum kicks off its 10-year anniversary with an epic exhibition from one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in modern times—don’t miss it! The exhibition will be on view from February 22–May 27, 2013 at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.  China’s Terracotta Warriors presents ten life-size terracotta figures — the maximum number permitted outside China […]

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A Sense of Travel — Sri Lanka

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By Georgia Hesse. Sri Lanka is a never-never land, a phantasmagoria, a mythosphere. Dangling like a teardrop off the southeast coast of India, only slightly larger than West Virginia, she crowds into her space primeval jungles where leopards lurk; swatches of arid desert; wide beaches…

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