The Tsuen Wan area in Hong Kong has some local temples well worth visiting, all not too far away from one another. You could easily spend a day touring around, walking between temples and monasteries. In my last visit to
Wat Phra That Doi Kham : Chiang Mai
Going a bit off the beaten track in Chang Mai, on my second day I rode my scooter down south west to explore the mountain top Wat Phra That Doi Kham, a 7th century with a 17m sitting Buddha. Some
Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep : Chiang Mai
Revisiting Chang Mai 14 years being away, there were a few spots that I was looking forward to seeing again. One of those was the Doi Suthep National Park and Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, set high on the mountains overlooking
Shwedagon Pagoda : Yangon Burma
The number one highlight of Yangon in Burma is the Shwedagon Pagoda. Digs in the area suggest that this worship site dates back as far as 6-10th century BC. This (possibly) 3000 years old Pagoda is the most sacred place in Burma,
HK Temple Run Day : Wong Tai Sin, Chi Lin & 10000 Buddhas
I took a Chinese visitor to Hong Kong to see some of the local temple culture on a temple run day. We started at the quiet and beautiful Nan Lian gardens and Chu Lin Nunnery near Diamond Hill, continues to
Engakuji Temple : Kamakura Japan
One of the largest Zen Buddhist temples in Japan and situated in a gorgeous forested area in the lovely Kamakura, a day trip from Tokyo, is the Engaku-ji Temple. The temple dates back to the 13th century and is a
Tianning Temple Pagoda : Beijing
A couple of blocks south from the White Cloud Temple in Beijing is the Tainning Temple which is most famous for its huge 12th century pagoda, which at the time would have enabled visitors to see very far away into
Great Buddha Kotokuin Temple : Kamakura Japan
Continuing the temple tour of the magical Kamakura area, a daytrip from Tokyo, is Japan’s second tallest Buddha statue at the Kotoku-in Temple. A somewhat humble temple compared to others in the area (e.g. Hasedera or Tsurugaoka Hachimangu), it still
Ueno Park and Yanaka Cemetery : Tokyo
Japanese cemeteries are unlike anything I’ve seen before. Though you can sense the influences of Buddhism and Asian style, the Japanese cemeteries feel different. They’re extremely esthetic, they include symbols and accessories not used else where, and most intriguingly, they’re
A Random Taiwanese Buddhist Garden : Kinmen Island
While riding around the charming Taiwanese Kinmen Island on a motorcycle, I came across a lovely Buddhist garden. While I was living in Taiwan I was used to occasional surprises of spiritual beauty in the middle of nowhere, but it’s