Thirty years ago, I spent a few days in Kuala Lumpur before leaving for an extended trip through Indonesia. At the time the city hadn’t raised the towering skyscrapers for which it is now known. It was an eclectic mix of British influences, Asian traditions, Malay and Islamic sensibilities. I walked from a street market packed with local foods, to … Read More

A good friend told me before I traveled to India ten years ago, “You’ll see some of the most beautiful sights and some of the ugliest, and they’re often right next to each other. Focus on the beauty.” She was correct. One constant was the expressive and lovely faces of the people I met. Camel tenders, actors, tradespeople, shaman and … Read More

On this day 20 years ago, I stayed with friends in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Close by is a large valley populated primarily by Amish and Mennonites. We spent the day taking in the beauty of the area and its unique culture. The valley is long and deep. Prosperous looking farms dot the landscape; along back roads were horse-drawn buggies, one room … Read More