The Shaw Festival is a world class performing arts company that brings the best plays of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries to life on three stages. This entertainment spectacle nicely compliments every antique collector's annual pilgrimage to Virgil and Jordan and the shops along Stone Rd in the old town of Niagara on the Lake.

Shopping for Antiques?

Niagara on the Lake, Virgil and Jordan are terrific places to shop for antique furniture, vintage kitchenware, stain glass windows and lamps. Although military collectibles are surprisingly scarce, there exists an extraordinary amount of sheet music, lace, dolls and of course doll houses, vintage bar supplies and nostalgia pieces from the 1920s and 30s. The area is also rich in antique toys, primitive iron tools, and collectible fruit sealer jars.

Niagara Falls History

Etienne Brûlé was the first European to see Niagara Falls in 1633. The first eyewitness account of the falls in written text was by Father Louis Hennepin in 1683 wherein he described it as, "the most beautiful and altogether the most terrifying waterfall in the universe".

The first European settlers were primarily British Loyalists fleeing America in 1778. At the end of the American Revolution, these Loyalists were given land grants, and the town of Niagara was laid out on the west bank of the Niagara River. As the first farms were being cut from the wilderness, the first orchards were planted and they included apple trees from Quebec and the Maritimes, and red cherries from the east coast of the United States. The whole settlement prospered under the leadership of John Butler, who had led a regiment of rangers during the revolution.

Handcrafted Wood Furniture

Known for good handcrafted wood furniture, the entire Niagara region is rich with handmade primitives that sometimes incorporate fruitwoods. Inside Europa-Antiques, shoppers will no doubt admire handmade wooden chests, side tables and wardrobes, pine dressers and bookshelf units all being sold for less than $350. The proprietors of this business, located at 1523 Niagara Stone Road, inside a

'dear old red brick church', have an interesting attitude toward recycling furniture as part of their contribution to reducing climate change - Josh points to the green Reduce, Reuse, Recycle triangle on his hemp shopping bags. This business is here to sell good furniture cheap, and keep the inventory moving by offering very low prices. And BEST OF ALL, if you buy over four hundred dollars worth of furniture they will deliver it for free as far away as Toronto!

Pottery, Porcelain, and Fine China

Lakeshore Antiques and Treasures is located at 855 Lakeshore Road in the center of Niagara on the Lake. This is a well stocked 7000 square foot building wherein 15 separate merchants offer up their wares. Overall there are good prices here on painted pine furniture and English china. The shop is filled with tables and chairs and early Canadian pottery, porcelain, and English fine china and American kitchenware from the 1940s and 50s. Antique chandeliers hang from the rafters over many merchant holdings.

Bakelite is a Good Buy in Niagara

The area is becoming known for unusual bakelite items like radios and picnic vessels, tableware and all manner of period Art Deco objects. These gorgeous early wood plastic luxury items were imported by retailers to accommodate Niagara Falls tourists in the booming1950's. Today vintage bakelite is very sheik, and these antiques are cool to collect and relatively inexpensive here because of their availability.

Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian Antiques

Creighton House Antiques is a family business located on the main street of Jordan since 1982, but Joe and Pauline Creighton have been in the area, selling antiques for thirty years. Their large shop is located in the carriage house next to their 1850s Georgian home. They have lots of Canadiana, Victorian, and Edwardian furniture pieces, turn-of-the-century oak wardrobes, and quality mahogany and walnut furniture of the 1920s. The antiques are in “as found condition”, and range from fair to good condition. Joe does the buying and prides himself of the selection - there's something for everyone here.

Jordan Antiques is found at 3836 Main Street in the village of Jordan and boasts 6000 square feet of shopping; there are a lot of antiques here and it's not crowded. The prices are good on pine furniture, fine china and figurines. There's an abundance of Art Deco ashtrays, cranberry coloured carnival glass, vintage Christmas decorations, antique fishing lures, wooden tackle boxes, and handmade quilts. This is the perfect place to outfit a cottage with classic furnishings.

The Shaw Festival plays punctuate the cerebral excitement of this historic destination. Look around this old town and you can see, touch and breathe in the history; the scenery includes thundering black powder cannons in the walls of Fort George, and quaint horse and buggy tours that parade under canopied streets. As most of the buildings in town have historic plaques chronicling their existence, it's quite enlightening to just saunter around town for an afternoon.

I could spend a lot of time telling you how to get to Europe and do it on the cheap; but frankly, I think most of us, even the Europe travel diehards, are planning to "do America first," this year; and perhaps for the foreseeable future.

Here are 5 spots to visit in our own hemisphere that will provide a pleasurable get-away. These 5 just happen to be in California.

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Whether you are an East-coaster or a west-coaster, a trip to California will provide a variety of vacation categories. If you like crowded freeways, smog and high temperature in summer, then Los Angeles may be your thing. But California is so much more than Hollywood and crowded L.A. beaches. I need to add a disclaimer here; I am a Californian, but there are some beautiful areas to visit, with lots of outdoor activities or city entertainment without having to cross into southern California, at all.

San Francisco Bay Area

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The San Francisco Bay Area is beautiful. The city itself is one of my favorite in the entire world, if I may say so myself. You could spend two weeks in the City by the Bay and never get to see and do everything on your agenda. From Golden Gate Park to world-class shopping, San Francisco has it all.

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I recommend a hotel near or on Union Square. From this point, you can walk to great restaurants, shopping venues, Theatres and more. Hotels here are a bit pricey. Forego the St. Francis; Try the Hyatt on the Square for a less pricey stay. The Hilton on O'Farrell is also not so pricey. Be sure you get a room in the main, or old tower. Some of these rooms offer views of the Bay and/or Golden Gate Bridges. Off-season, (not summer) rooms are reasonable for San Francisco. The Prescott is one of my old favorites in this area and a travel bargain for San Francisco. Wolfgang Puck's Postrio Restaurant is attached to the Prescott's lobby.

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A day spent in Golden Gate Park with a visit to the Japanese Tea Garden and the Steinhart Aquarium is a must. Have a picnic in the park, stroll to the Conservatory of Flowers where rare plants are housed in a glass building that is one of the most memorable of San Francisco's landmarks. The DeYoung Museum features world-class exhibits, visit the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco for information on all of San Francisco's museums.

Wine Country

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Napa Valley/Sonoma, Northern California Wine Country is a fabulous area to visit. From San Francisco, The northern wine country is just a 45-minute drive across the Golden Gate Bridge. We enjoyed our last visit so much that we plan to take the entire family this summer; a cottage rental, perhaps, will be in order...something with a pool because this area can be very hot in summer. The best times to travel to the Napa wine country would be in spring or in fall. But if you like warm weather, summers are very nice but hot.

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Most wineries have complementary wine tasting. The knowledgeable folks who pour will give you a real education in the science and enjoyment of fine wines. The California Wine industry is the world's largest, by value, according to the California Wine Institute. For my money, give me a good California Chardonnay and I'm a very happy girl. The French can keep their whites; except for the champagnes, of course.

Consider the Wine train for an unforgettable wine experience including meals on board, if you wish. Check their website for seasonal rates and event packages.

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Many of the Wineries, tasting rooms and their properties are so beautiful that the whole family will enjoy visiting. Bring your designated driver, however. The local police have very little tolerance for drunk drivers.

As in San Francisco, you can pay just about whatever you want to pay for accommodations in the Northern California wine country. The further you get from the wineries, the more you will spend for a hotel or inn room. Try Petaluma hotels for a bit of a bargain, in Napa, the New Meritage Resort and Spa Terra is very nice for a mid-range Hotel. The spa is fabulous. Check my review here.

The Central Coast

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I live on the Central Coast of California, and I truly believe I live in the most beautiful place on Earth. (It takes a really enticing out of town trip to get my husband and I off of our deck and away from Carmel; why leave when Carmel is so amazing?) Carmel is the focal point of the central coast. Once an artist colony, still an enclave of storybook cottages and a strip of white-sand beach that is drop-dead gorgeous.

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Just on the southern outskirts of Carmel is Point Lobos Preserve. Pack a lunch, hike, cycle or drive in for a small fee and spend the day with your camera shooting some of the most pristine and lovely coastline undamaged by human interference. Watch the sea lions and sea otters at play and hike the trails to get different views of the sea. You can scuba dive here, but nothing is to be disturbed or taken from its natural habitat. Looking only, no touching is the rule at Point Lobos.

Be sure to take a drive through Pebble Beach on 17-Mile-Drive. Stop off at the Lodge for a glass of wine and unobstructed views of Monterey Bay while standing in a landmark building that looks as if it stepped right out of "The Great Gadsby." If you love to golf, The Monterey Bay Area has a plethora of world class golf courses. I don't want to forget about Spanish Bay Resort. While in the "Forest," stop at Spanish bay for a beverage by the fire pits at Roy's at Spanish Bay.

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If you drive along the coast 40 miles south of Carmel on Highway 1, you will enjoy spending the day in Big Sur. From high on the cliffs, enjoy lunch at Ventana Inn or Nepenthe. Perhaps not the greatest restaurants, but the views and ambiance make up for it in spades.

In nearby Pacific Grove, a scenic path begins and stretches along the oceanfront for 20 plus Miles northward past beaches, the Monterey Wharf and sand dunes farther north in the Seaside/Marina area. Cyclists and rollerbladers, as well as walkers and joggers can use the path for a good day's worth of exercise combined with sightseeing. Check Monterey Bay Coastal Bike Trail for information on specific scenic path routes in Monterey County.

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You might also schedule some time to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This is no average aquarium. Watch sea otters, penguins, fish native to Monterey Bay and learn why The Monterey Bay is a protected sanctuary. Explore the Aquarium's website for specific information regarding hours and entry fees. Also, you may want to look into a sanctuary cruise or other educational opportunities available to you.

Santa Cruz

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Santa Cruz, about 40 miles North of the Monterey Peninsula, is actually considered part of the central coast but has a flavor all it's own. Santa Cruz and Aptos have warmer summer beach weather than does the Monterey Peninsula. If surfing or other water sports are more your thing, or if you want to sunbathe on the beach, you would have better luck in the Santa Cruz area. You will want to put aside time for a stroll through the little enclave of Capitola, as well.

A trip to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk will afford the entire family with a day of entertainment at an old-fashioned yet modernized, seaside park. There are rides as wild as the Big Dipper Rollercoaster to rides in the kiddy section for children as little as 2 years old. I'm not the theme park enthusiast, but once a year we do make a pilgrimage to the Boardwalk for the kids, and it certainly brings back memories of my own childhood with summer days spent there.

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With all of the first three vacation spots, consider the weather for the best time to visit; San Francisco and The Monterey Peninsula can be foggy in summer, especially during years when the central valley of California is scorching hot. Santa Cruz, however, has early morning fog but it lifts for sunny, warm summer afternoons.

The best months to visit San Francisco and The Monterey Peninsula are May and early June and also, September and Early October. These are rules of thumb; of course, I've been known to soak up the beach sun in Carmel in February, for instance.

The Sierras

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A summer vacation in Lake Tahoe will never be a disappointment. Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra Nevadas, spans two states, California and Nevada. It is a beautiful lake, clear, blue and seemingly untouched by human destruction. If you love to boat, fish, hike, mountain bike, party or just ride the lawn chair, as I love to do, you will fall in love with Lake Tahoe.

Be forewarned that North Shore and South shore are very, very different. South Shore offers Large Hotels, Harrah's and Harvey's, just to name two, with name talent in the showrooms and 24 hour gambling, or as we like to say, 24 hours worth of chances to lose your money! But, very entertaining as your pocketbook shrinks, I must admit.

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North Shore is much more low-key with little enclaves clustered along the lake from Incline Village to Squaw Valley. For the family who wants a family-style vacation, perhaps in a vacation cabin or a condo, North shore would be more to your liking. Also, consider the VERY quiet West shore. The West Shore is less crowded, more "woodsy" with lots of old "Tahoe-style cabins." If you want a quiet retreat away from crowds and you don't care that there isn't much to do at night but vege, (sounds great to me!) look into the west shore of Lake Tahoe.

I am not a gourmet or a gourmand; however, I love to taste. Being familiar with the areas I've listed, I will give you my favorite restaurant picks in each, if any.

Monterey Peninsula: Carmel: The Rio Grill Located in the Crossroads Center, Mouth of Carmel Valley Rib Eye steak to die for on nights when it is served. The best smoked chicken with baby artichoke hearts and baby red tomatoes. Penne pasta with grilled shrimp and Creole cream sauce ... yum! But, if you don't like really spicy foods, ask them to tone it down a bit!

Bahama Billy's, located in the Barnyard, Carmel Rancho, Mouth of Carmel Valley.

I usually don't care for Jamaican/island cuisine but Billy's food is excellent. Try the Sashimi if you like sashimi, this is served wonderfully different. Lightly seared, blackened and served with a unique wasabi sauce. The Lobster bisque is also fabulous. **Billy's also has a sunny, beautiful patio for lunch.

Tarpey's Roadhouse Located on Highway 68, just outside of Monterey on the highway between Monterey and Salinas. **They get the award for best outdoor lunch patio.
Joe Rombi's La Mia Cucina Located in Pacific Grove. Locals' favorite Italian food. The delicate, light, portabella mushroom raviolis are wonderful.

The Montrio Located in Downtown Monterey is another locals' favorite. If you love prime rib, on Thursdays only, The Montrio serves the most mouth-watering roasted, then fire flamed, prime rib ever. Sauce style and accompaniment s vary but all are excellent.

When in Napa:

Brix in Napa Located on the St. Helena Highway in Yountville. Brix' s ambience is very nice, the food is awesome! We loved the New York steak cooked just the way we ordered it, and the butter leaf salad.

When In Santa Cruz/Capitola/Aptos:

I'm sorry to say that this area is a bit gastronomically challenged, save the pub-style foods that the UC students love. However, Bittersweet Bistro is the exception. Bittersweet is a beautiful little restaurant with fabulous food and wonderful service. They have a fun locals tavern-style bar with a lively crowd on "events" days. Food is also served in the pub for a more casual dinning experience if you wish.

If anyone has other suggestions for this area, I would love to hear them because Bittersweet is the only place we have found that we return to each time we are in the Santa Cruz area. Located on Rio Del Mar Blvd. in Capitola, just off Highway 1.

How Much to Bring

I recently traveled to The Netherlands with my school's study abroad program. The first thing they told us? Save. We would be abroad for four months and although room and board were provided to us by our school during the week, on weekends we'd be on our own. When I arrived in The Netherlands in fall 2007, the exchange rate was about $1.50 American dollars to one Euro and $2.00 American dollars to the British pound. This means you should expect to lose at least a third of your money just in exchange rates.

They suggested to us to use credit cards, as this will give you the best exchange rate. I found that doing this often led to high fees for overseas use. It's a good resource if you're buying in bulk, but for small purchases keep cash on hand. Get foreign money at your bank beforehand, they will give you the best exchange rate. Use ATM's when you need cash abroad, and avoid cash exchange booths that can rip you off.

I found that $5,000 was sufficient for me for four months, but even if you're just going for a week I would suggest having at least $1,000. You never know what expenses will come up, and with the exchange rate constantly fluctuating, it's a good idea to have extra cash on hand.

Getting Around

My program encouraged us to travel on the weekends and gave us each a Eurail pass that would enable us to travel most of Europe. You can obtain these passes via the Eurail website for anywhere from 10 days to three months. Though they're a bit pricy, it's a good investment if you'll be traveling to three or more countries. Otherwise you'll have to pick up tickets as you go, which can lead to complications and a general hassle. Also, a two hour train ride can cost as much as $50.

If you need to use an airline, Ryanair is Europe's leading bargain flight. The airports are a bit out of the way, but with the price of a ticket starting at $30 American dollars, it's definitely worth the extra bus ride. It's a flight devoid of luxury, but it gets you to your destination for cheap.

Where to Stay

Forget the horror movies, Hostels are the backpacker's best friend. Websites like Hostelworld list hostels in particular cities that cost as little as $10 per night. Some even include breakfast and discounts on tours. You'll probably have to share a room with other guests, but for the most part hostels are safe and reliable. Just make sure to book in advance, because of their cheap price they fill up quickly.

Eating

I found that in each city I visited, there were certain foods that were necessary to sample. However, most foods that are popular to a particular place (think: Belgian waffles in Brussels, Gyros in Athens) have multiple restaurants that serve the dish. Don't just go to the first place you see, shop around to get the best price. A four star restaurant may serve a Welsh Rabbit (grilled ham and cheese) that is just as delicious as the pub down the street.

Also, limit yourself to one special dinner per place you visit, or even just per week. It will save you money and there's no shame in eating fast food every now and then. Also, grocery stores can be a cheap way to get a good meal. What's more romantic than wine, bread, and cheese in a French park? The atmosphere is free, and the food is a fraction of what you'd pay elsewhere!

Following these tips you'll be able to have a fun and exciting European vacation on a budget. Make sure to take as many pictures as possible and keep your valuables and passport on you at all times. Happy travels!

By: nobert soloria bermosa

Aside from beautiful white sand beaches and scenic diving spots, the Philippines is also endowed with wonderful caves. There are hundreds of caves in the Philippines. Peñablanca, Cagayan alone has already around 300 caves.

Spelunkers and non-spelunkers, here's a list of the most famous caves in the country that can give you thrill and excitement. You will surely love and enjoy them.

6.) Callao Caves in Cagayan

On the Sixth slot is Callao Caves. Located within the Peñablanca Protected Landscape.The seven-chambered Callao Caves boast of massive limestone and other rock formations, skylights, and a chapel. The conditions inside the cave cause stalactites and stalagmites, particularly in the deeper chambers. Every chamber has natural crevices, which let light get into the cave, serving as illumination for the otherwise dark areas of the place.

5. Jackpot Cave in Cagayan

On the fifth spot is the Jackpot Cave also in Peñablanca, Cagayan. It is the second deepest cave in the Philippines at 115 meters. The cave has a walking size passage, shafts and drops of varying depths that provide for a lot of rope works. Meandering streams and pools of varying size abound inside the cave.

4. Odessa Tumbali Cave in Peñablanca, Cagayan

On the fifth spot-Odessa Tumbali Cave in Peñablanca, Cagayan. At 12.6 kilometers, it is the third longest cave in the Philippines. It is active and provides excellent wet sport caving. It has superb formations and passage shapes, canals and lakes for swimming, photography and cave diving opportunities, and varied fauna. Acknowledged to be a perfect cave system, it has five known entrances.

3. Sumaging-Latipan-Lomyang Crystal Cave in Sagada, Mt.Province

On the third place, we have Sumaging-Latipan-Lomyang Crystal Cave in Sagada, Mt.Province. In terms of vertical range it is the deepest reaching 163 meters from its mouth. In terms of length, it is the fifth longest cave in the Philippines. Six entrances lead to a complex mix of active and fossil cave remarkable for its large passages and impressive gours. The system is partially accessible to tourists and a sump connected to Lokohong Cave.

2. Odloman Cave in Mabinay, Negros Oriental

On the second slot is the Odloman Cave in Mabinay, Negros Oriental. This cave is 8.9 km. long. Five entrances have been connected and the system comprises a mix of large and small galleries with some active streamway. This cave is the 6th deepest in the country.

1. Palawan Underground River or St. Paul Subterranean River - Longest Navigable Underground River in the World

This is the most famous cave in the Philippines. The longest underground river was discovered a few years back in Mexico somewhere in the Yucatan. St. Paul Underground River in Palawan, Philippines may not be the longest underground river in the world anymore, but it is still the world's longest navigable underground river. The navigable part of the river inside the cave of the 4000-acre St. Paul Subterranean River stretches 15 kilometers in length (5 miles). St. Paul Cave is the 3rd deepest cave in the country.

Siangde Temple is a scenic spot that is surrounded by green mountains resembles 9 lotuses and thus it is named as Nine Lotus or Jiuhuashan in Taiwan. It is situated on a plateau across the Liwu River where vehicles cannot reach and hence this temple remains as a tranquility place. This temple has become part of the wonderful scenery spots in Taroko National Park of Taiwan, which is near to the Taroko village of Tiansheng overlooking Pudu Bridge. Here an amazing sight of a 12-meter tall giant statue of the Earth Store Bodhisattva rises above the surrounding greenery.




The nuns at the temple are friendly and most welcoming. This temple not only allows you to worship Buddha but also lets you look down over the Tiansiang terraces and lovely gorge scenery. Each year, many believers besides foreign visitors come from all over the places to worship Buddha or practice moral teachings here.

Haeinsa Temple - Korea

Haeinsa Temple is the most beautiful sacred spot in Gayasan National Park which was established by two monks, Sunung and Ijong during the early 9th century to devote the studies of the sutra.

Literally, "Haein" means a reflection on a calm sea which is a phrase derived from the Avatamsaka sutra.

The main highlight in this temple is its Tripitaka Koreana which is 81,258 wooden printing blocks carved during the Goryo Dynasty (AD 918 - 1392). These carvings have been well kept as the best Buddhist scriptures in the world. Besides that this temple has many images of Buddha like Manjusri and Samantabhadra. It accommodates many other artifacts found at Cheongyansa Temple and the Stone Pagoda at Wolgwang Temple in Korea.

Angkor Wat - Cambodia

Angkor Wat is a huge pyramid temple built by the Khmer civilization between 1130 and 1150 A.D. at Angkor, Cambodia. It was built during the early year of the 12th century for King Suryavarman II (ruled 1113-1150 A.D.) in his state to honor the Hindu god Vishnu which is a symbolic representation of Hindu cosmology.

This temple is regarded as the supreme masterpiece of Khmer architecture as it is surrounded by a 655 feet wide moat and it is about 4 miles long. At the center of the temple, one can see a quincunx of towers.

Its five inter-nested rectangular walls and moats symbolizing range of mountains and the cosmic ocean. Its extensive bas-relief carvings and numerous devatas (guardian spirits) adorning its walls represent the mankind's high quality and most amazing architecture achievement. Angkor Wat is particularly well-known for its stunning sculpted murals on its interior walls of the palace and mortuary. Therefore, it is not surprising to hear that it is ranked among the foremost architectural wonders of the world as well as the largest religious monument in the world.

Shaolin Temple - China

Shaolin Temple (Shàolínsì) is a famous Chinese martial arts (or Wushu Chan) temple in China which is situated in Songshan Mountains, eight miles from Dengfeng and 50 miles away from the southwest of Zengzhou, the capital of Henan Province.

It was established during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 534) in 495 A.D. Emperor Xiaowen, who was a believer of Buddhism decided to build this temple on Mt. Song to house Batuo (or Buddhabhadra), an Indian monk who came to Luoyang, the ancient capital in 464 A.D for spreading Buddhist teachings.

Another Indian monk, Damo (Bodhidharma, Bhadra or Fotuo) who was the creator of Chinese Zen came to Shaolin in 517 A.D. He was allegedly meditating in a cave for 9 years and was said to have written the famous "Yijinjing," the fundamental of Shaolin martial arts or Gongfu.

During the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), this temple attained its glory moment by housing over 1,000 soldier monks who were used by the government to combat against the rebellions and Japanese bandits. Nevertheless, during the Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1911) the martial arts was strictly prohibited. Between 1644 and 1928, the Shaolin temple was severely burnt several times, with the largest fire set in 1928 by the army of Shi Yousan in order to demolish the buildings of Shaolin Temple. The fire also destroyed almost all the temple's classical literature and records.

One can see over 300 ancient stone inscriptions with some of them created by the famous calligraphers, Ming-dynasty mural of 500 arhats adorning The Thousand Buddha Hall, about 200m up the hill from the temple are 232 pagodas (or the forest of pagodas) which are tombs of Shaolin monks from the 9th to 19th centuries with each inscribed with the names of the monk and his disciples, Qing murals adorning the White Robe Hall depicting the Rescue of Emperor Tai Zong by 13 Monks which show typical kung-fu moves, and many noted relics at Shaolin Temple. Other structures that greet visitors to this temple include a Bell Tower, a Drum Tower, Mahavira Hall, Hall of the Heavenly Kings, Fangzhang Hall (resting place for the temple's abbots) and over 5000 Buddhist sutras are well-kept in the library of the Sutra-Keeping Pavilion.

The most interesting relics are the murals adorning the Eastern Hall which depict groups of boxing monks. With such unique features, Shaolin Temple is well known in China and in abroad.

Wat Rong Khun - Thailand

Wat Rong Khun is the famous and impressed Buddhist temple located in a northern province in Thailand of Pa O Don Chai Sub-District, Mueang District, Chaingrai. This temple is about 5km away from Chiangrai, 10km from the Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai-Phayao Junction, 10km away from the Mae Suay Junction, 13km south of Chiang Rai City, or about 100m from the main superhighway to Chiangrai, Thailand. It was designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, the famous national artist who has vowed to immerse himself deeply to serve the religion by constructing Wat Rong Khun since 1997 when he was 42 to the last day of his life to the temple.

His unique and majestic architecture and craftsman creations have been attracting large groups of foreign visitors visiting this temple. According to Thailand's tourist information, this temple had attracted over 1.8 million visitors, of which 140,000 were foreigners.

"Only death can stop my dream, but cannot stop my project," said Chalermchai Kositpipat, the creator of Wat Rong Khun in his book entitled "Sang Buddhasilp Puer Pandin" (Creating Buddhist arts for the Motherland) that his intention is to create the replica of magnificent and elegant temple as a heaven realm, an earthly paradise that humankind can experience.

Wat Rong Khun is a unique temple which is different from any other temples in Thailand as the Ubosot (consecrated assembly hall or chapel) has pure white color and white glittering mosaic glasses to enable it sparkles and shines throughout the day and night.

According to Chalermchai Kositpipat, the white color symbolises the Lord Buddha's purity while the white glass represents the Lord Buddha's wisdom that shines brightly all over the earth and the universe. This temple is a fine mixture of traditional Buddhist masterpiece and it is designed with small pieces of mirrored glass to add in a spacious and magical look particularly when it is viewed in the moonlight hours. The entrance to the main prayer hall has a disconcerting sea of hands, reaching out from the hell to beg for help. Inside this white temple are murals and paintings of the Buddha image and painted enamel ceramic floor.

While walking into the main chapel, you will be amazed by the statue of Lord Buddha, and this statue seems as though it is floating in the timelessness of space. There are 4 kinds of animals on its roof with the elephant represents earth, the dragon represents water, the swan's wings represent wind and the lion's chest represents fire. The bridge symbolises the crossing over from the cycle of rebirth to the Abode of Buddha while the small semicircle before the bridge symbolises the human world. The mouth of Rama or Rahu is represented by the big circle with fangs, meaning impurities in the mind and a symbolisation of hell or suffering as well.

Borobudur - Indonesia

Borobudur is regarded as one of the seven wonders and the largest and unusual Buddhist monument in the world.



It is located at Borobudur District, South of Magelang, and Central Jaya of Indonesia. It was constructed on a bedrock hill, 265meters (869 feet) above sea level out of an estimated 1,600,000 blocks of volcanic stones dredging from the river in the 8th and 9th centuries by the kingdom of Sailendra who ruled in Central Java at that time. The inscription dated 842 A.D. suggested that Borobudur was one time a sacred place for praying. Evidence explains that Borobudur was abandoned following the decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms in Jaya and the Javanese conversion to Islam in the 14th century. It was then rediscovered by the British Governor of Java, Sir Thomas Raffles in 1814.

In 1968, the Indonesian government with the assistance of UNESCO launched a campaign of "Save Borobudur" to undertake restoration project to rebuilt Borobudur, and the major renovation of Borobudur was funded by UNESCO, who designated Borobudur as a World Heritage Site. Thereafter, in every May or June, Buddhists in Indonesia celebrate Vesak Day at Borobudur in order to commemorate the birth, death, and the time when Siddhārtha Gautama attained the highest wisdom to become the Buddha Shakyamuni. Now, Borobudur is Indonesia's major tourist attraction spot with approximately 2.5 million visitors annually.

Borobudur has an overall height of 42 meters, but its height is 34.5 meters after the restoration. It has a dimension of 123 x 123 meters or 15,129 square meters. Its nine-terraced temple symbolises the transition towards nirvana and is well-known for its 1,500 intricately carved reliefs.

This monument is facing eastward with 1460 panels (each with 2 meters in width) and is decorated with 2,670 bas reliefs (1,460 narrative and 1,212 decorative panels) and 504 Buddha statues (including the intact and damaged statues). The first floor up to the 6th floor is in square platforms, while the 7th to the 10th floor is in concentric circular platforms.

Borobudur has many Buddha statues. One can see 6 different postures of Buddha's statue from the bottom to the top representing "contact with earth," "giving and helping," "meditation," "no fear," "teach and learn" and "turn of wills." A main dome which is located at the center of the top platform is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues seated inside perforated stupa.

The first circular platform has 32 stupas, the second 24 and the third 16, that sum up to 72 stupas. The cross-legged Buddha statues are seated in lotus position which is distributed on the Rupadhatu level (on the five square platforms) arranging in rows on the outer sides of the balustrades, and the Arupadhatu level (on the top platform).

The Temple of Heaven - China

The magnificent and colorful Temple of Heaven literally means the Altar of Heaven (Tiāntán) is a complex of Taoist temple that was visited by the Emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties for annual ceremonies of prayer to offer sacrifice to heaven and pray for good harvests. It was constructed between 1406 and 1420 A.D. during the reign of Ming Dynasty, Yongle Emperor (1406 - 1420), who was also responsible for the establishment of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Originally, the temple was established as the Temple of Heaven and Earth, but it was expanded and renamed as Temple of Heaven during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor (1522 - 1567) in the 16th century, who built three prominent temples include Temple of Sun (ri tan), Temple of Earth (di tan) and Temple of Moon (yue tan) which can be found respectively in the east, north and west of Beijing. In the 18th century, during the reign of Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Emperor (1736 -1795) ordered to renovate this temple. In 1914, it was recorded that the President of the Republic of China, Yuan Shih-kai performed a Ming prayer ceremony at this temple as part of his effort to declare himself as Emperor of China. In 1961, it was listed by the State Council as "one of the key monuments under the state protection" as it is regarded as one of the most strictly protected and preserved cultural heritages of China. By 1998, this temple was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Since the founding of New China, the government has allocated large amounts of money to protect the cultural monuments in the Temple of Heaven. Each year, about 12 million visitors visit this temple.

The Temple of Heaven is much bigger than the Forbidden City but smaller than the Summer Palace, occupying an area of about 2,700,000 square meters (667 acres) which is about 4 times bigger than the area of the Forbidden City. As the feudal Chinese emperors regarded themselves as "The Son of Heaven" with their roles as head of a feudal system with a mandate from the heaven and thus they dared not build their own dwelling in Forbidden City bigger than a dwelling in Heaven.

The Temple of Heaven is a worthwhile visiting place in Beijing as it was a grand masterpiece and magnificent architecture of the Chinese People in the ancient times, coupling with its long history, deep cultural properties and magnificent architectural style reflects the ancient culture of the Orient. The layout of the Temple of Heaven is in accordance with the numerology and principles dating back to pre-Confucian times; with its semicircular northern part wall symbolizes the heaven while the southern part is square symbolizes the earth. This layout of walls reflects the ancient Chinese concept of the cosmogony: The sky is round and the earth is square. The design of the northern part being higher than the southern part is due to the ancient Chinese religious belief that the heaven is higher than the earth. Similarly, the roofs of the important structures in this temple are all tiled in blue symbolizing the color of the heaven and sky. The symbolism was essential as it is served as the place where the emperor as the "Son of Heaven" dwelt in was directly beseeched Heaven to provide a bountiful harvest throughout the land. This was particularly of much importance as during the imperial period the base of China's wealth was agriculture.

The primary buildings in this temple are three-layer-terrace Circular Mount Altar (a place where the sacrificial rite was held on the winter solstice) with white marble in its south and the 38-meter-high Altar of Prayer for Good Harvests (a place where emperors prayed for favorable weather and ample harvests) with round roof and three layers of eaves in its north which are lined in the central axis of the whole temple and are connected by a 36-meter-long bridge.


Inside the hall are 28 huge posts with the four posts along the inner circle represent 4 seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter; the 12 posts along the middle circle represent the 12 months; and 12 posts along the outer circle represent 12 Shichen (one Shichen in the past equaled to 2 hours and a whole day was divided into 12 Shichen). Subsidiary buildings include Imperial Vault of Heaven, the Hall of Abstinence, the Long Corridor, Seven Meteoric Stones, a Beamless Hall, the Bell Tower, and relatively small halls.

Another unique feature for you to see is a Nine-Dragon Cypress which is branches resembles nine dragons wind with each other. It was told that the cypress was planted over 500 years ago.

Outside the gate of the Imperial Vault of Heaven is Three Echo Stones. Here, if you speak facing the Vault while standing on the first stone, you will hear one echo; standing on the second and the third stone, you will hear two and three echoes respectively. Other interesting place for you to visit is a round Echo Wall which encloses the Imperial Vault of Heaven with 193 meter (633 feet) in its perimeter.

If you and your friend stand at the east and the west roots of the wall and you whisper a word, then your friend will hear what you said clearly even he is standing at the wall with a distance of 100 to 200 meters (328 -656 feet). The main hall in the temple was built to be a round pavilion with dark blue roof symbolizing heaven.

The East Assistant Hall worships the gods of stars including the sun, the Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, dipper and Saturn. The gods of natural phenomenon including wind, lightning, rain and thunder are placed in the West Assistance Hall of the Temple of Heaven.

Shwedagon Pagoda - Myanmar

The Shwedagon ("shwe" means gold and "Dagon" is the former name of Yangon) Pagoda is a 98-meter (322 feet) coned shaped giant, golden and glistering stupa which is situated in Yangon, Myanmar. Shwedagon, the "Mother of all pagodas in Myanmar" is the most well-known sacred Buddhist pagoda in Yangon which is also one of the main tourist destinations in Myanmar. This notable pagoda is located at No. 1, Shwedagon Pagoda Road, Dagon Township in Yangon, Myanmar. Archaeologists believed that it was built between the 6th and 10th centuries or 2, 500 years ago by the Burmese King Binnya U of the Mon Dynasty. However, according to the records by Buddhist monks, it was built before the Lord Buddha died in 486 BC.

According to the legend of the pagoda, two trader brothers from Myanmar namely Tapussa and Bhallika led a caravan of bullock-carts to India and there they came across the Buddha who had recently attained His Enlightenment or Buddha hood. They received eight of the Buddha's hairs to be enshrined in the Shwedagon Pagoda. Relics of the four former Buddhas are enshrined within the pagoda. They are staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Konagamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight hairs of Gautama, the historical Buddha. The myth has it said that when the golden container was opened to where the eight hairs of Buddha were kept, the rays emanated from the hairs rising up to the heaven and down to the hell, enabling the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the dumb to speak.

The base of the Pagoda has a perimeter of 1,420 feet and its height is 326 feet above the platform. It has been estimated that about 8688 solid gold bars were used to plate its surrounding domes and the main stupa took 13513 solid gold bars. This pagoda has 4 entrances (mouk) that lead to the platform (yin byin) made on the top of the Singuthara Hill. A pair of mystical lions (chinthe) is located on its gates. The second Buddha statue, Konagamana stands on the top of the steps. The base of the stupa is made of bricks and covered with golden leaves. No one knows what is inside the base of the pagoda. According to the legendary tales, there are non-stop flying and turning swords to protect the pagoda from the intruders. Some local people say that there are underground tunnels lead to Bagan and Thailand.

The heavy gilded Shwedagon Pagoda has an octagonal base with eight smaller stupas on each eight sides, summing up a total of 64. At each corner of the platform, Manokthihas (sphinxes) are surrounded by a number of "chintes." The eight planetary posts at each cardinal point of the compass around the Shwedagon Pagoda are the symbolizations of the eight days of the week, each with its own animal and planet symbol. A gilded Buddha image made of alabaster is placed beside each planetary post.

The Golden Temple - India

The Golden Temple (Sri Harmandir Sahib or Sri Darbar Sahib) is the most significant shrine of the Sikhs and it is also one of the oldest Sikh gurudwara. It is located on a small island in the center of a pool called Amritsar (pool of ambrosial nectar), India. Its golden color is due to the overlay of gold foil, and hence it gets its name as a Golden Temple. The idea of establishing this temple was initiated by the 4th guru of the Sikhs, Guru Ram Das (1574 -1581) or more commonly known as "guru di nagri" which carries the meaning of city of the Sikh Guru. This temple was first established in 1601 and was rebuilt by the Sikh ruler, Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1803. The 5th Nanak, Guru Arjan Sahib (1581 -1606) had conceived the idea of designing the architectural framework of the Golden Temple.

The Golden Temple is built on a 67 feet square platform in the center of the Sarovar (tank). There is a door in the East, West, North and South respectively, and the door flame of its arch is measured 10 feet in height and 8 feet 6 inches in breath. The architecture of the Golden Temple reflects a unique harmony between the Muslims and the Hindus and thus it is regarded as the best architectural specimens in the world. This architectural style has been used to create an independent Sikh school in the history of India. Unlike a traditional Hindu Temple where the devotees have to climb up to offer their salutations as the structure is built on higher level, Guru Arjan Sahib had it created on lower level than its surrounding ground so that it is accessible to every person to offer homage to this holy shrine irrespective of his or her caste (Kshatriya, Brahmin, Sudra or Vaisya), creed, gender, race, color and religion.

White Buildings of the Golden Temple

Sarowar is another interesting site to visit. It had been lined with bricks and steps had been built along its sides so that the devout could bathe in the immortal pool. It is interesting to learn that this three-storey-high temple is surrounded by the lake. The body of water is encompassed by a backdrop of bright-white buildings on all its four sides. The Golden Temple is crowned with a dome shaped like an inverted lotus. The two upper stories have gilded while its lower story is in white marble. The walls within its entrances are decorated with carved wooden panels and elaborate inlay work in gold and silver. The interior of the temple is decorated with semi precious stones, frescoes and glass works. The best time to visit this temple is in the early morning on weekdays before it gets crowded and visitors are asked to take off their shoes before entering the temple premises.

Another significance feature of the structure of the Golden temple is that it has four entrances to open to worshipers of all castes and creeds and this feature is quite different from most of the Hindu Temples that only have one gate. Other remarkable feature is the scripture of the Sikhs which highlights the importance of the unity of God and brotherhood of man. The scripture compiled by the Siri Guru Granth Sahib Ji consisting of 1,948 pages and more than 7,000 hymns.

Chion-in Temple - Japan

Chion-in (or Chionin) Temple is a large and well-known temple in Japan which is situated in the north of Maruyama Park and Yasaka-jinja Shrine in Kyoto's Higashiyama District, Japan. It is 8-minute-walk from Higashiyama Subway Station (Tozai Line) or 5-minute-walk from the front bus stop of Chion-in. Being the headquarter of the Jodo Shu (Pure Land) sect of Buddhism, Chion-in is one of the most important and popular sacred sites in Japan.

The Jodo sect was founded by Hōnen in the year of 1175, who proclaimed that sentient beings are reborn in Amida Buddha's Western Paradise (Pure Land) by reciting the nembutsu, Amida Buddha's name in devotion and faith. His simple teachings have attracted large numbers of followers among the commoners and have helped Jodo Buddhism become the most popular sect in Japan, ahead of the Jodo-shin and Shingon sects.

The temple was built in 1234 in the memory of his master and was named Chion-in. Several buildings in the complex were burnt in 1633 and the current buildings are reconstructions dated back from the 17th century under the reign of the 3rd Tokugawa Shogun Lemitsu (1604 - 1651). In October 2002, Chion-in Temple was used in the filming of Tom Cruise's movie entitled "The Last Samurai."

The entrance to Chion-in is through a 24-meter-tall two-storey Sanmon Gate (main gate) and later up a steep flight of stairs. It was the oldest structure built in 1619 and has been designated as a Japanese National Treasure.

Its ground is always crowded with people praying before a large brazier that holds small sticks of incense in front of the images of the main hall. The main Hall is big enough to accommodate 3,000 people and the corridor behind this gate leads to the Assembly Hall is called Uguisu-bari (nightingale floor or literally means "bush warbler floor boards").

This type of floor is constructed to "sing" at every footstep to alert the monks of the presence of intruders.

Chion-in Temple's copper bell is the largest and the heaviest in Japan with its weight of 74 tons. It needs 17 people to ring this bell. This bell is so special that particularly during the New Year's Eve ceremony in which the bell is struck 108 times by 17 monks, representing the 108 desires in the mind to be scared off before the New Year begins in Japan every year.

Another interesting feature to note is the roof beams are craved with the family crest of the Tokugawa family: Three hollyhock leaves. Chion-in Temple has a large and small guest houses built in 1641 in the Irimoya roof style called Ohojo and Kohojo which are designated as Important Cultural Heritages in Japan. Other Important Cultural Properties at the temple are buildings such as the Kyo-zo (storehouse for sculptures), Miei-do (hall enshrining the founder of the Jodo sect, Hōnen), Dai-shoro (room for the priest), Dai-shoro (large bell tower), Sho-hojo, Chokushi-mon (gate for Imperial messengers) and Kuri (kitchen and living quarters for the priests).

Kek Lok Si Temple - Malaysia

Over years, the historical heritage site of Kek Lok Si (Cantonese) Buddhist Temple, the Temple of Supreme Bliss (Penang Hokkien) or "Ji Le Si" (Mandarin) which means the temple of nirvana is one of the main attractions on the island of Penang, Malaysia.

This island was once the administrative center for the British East India Company during the colonial days. Kek Loh Si is not only the oldest, well-known and largest temples in Malaysia, but also one of the finest Buddhist temples in the Southeast Asia region.

It is situated at the hills of Ayer Hitam, or Crane Hill, which is a place recommended as a retreat for Taoist practitioners striving for immortality. At the hills of Ayer Hitam, visitors can view the panoramic scenery of Penang town.

The Kek Lok Si project was mooted by the chief monk of the Goddess of Mercy Temple of Pitt Street. This project received the sanction of the Manchu Emperor Kuang Hsi with the collaboration of the consular representative of China in Penang. The Emperor Kuang His had then bestowed a tablet and gift of 70,000 volumes of the Imperial Edition of the Buddhist Sutras. The construction of Kek Lok Si Temple was first established in 1893, but it was only in 1930, the Thai King, King Rama VI laid the foundation stone for this site and thus it is sometimes referred as Pagoda of Rama VI or the Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas. This 30-meter-high and 7-storey pagoda is a mixture of Chinese octagonal base, Thai design at its middle tier, and a Burmese crown, reflecting the temple's embrace of both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. This work of ancient Burmese, Chinese and Thai craftsmen took more than 20 years to build. A 30.2-meter-high Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin or Avalokitesvara) statue was completed in 2002. This all bronze Goddess of Mercy statue is flanked by a few tall structures of Luohan (Guards) statues. Another Guanyin head and shoulder section was built atop an annexed temple roof.

Visitors are recommended to walk all the way up of 193 steps lining with many stalls selling all types of handicrafts, souvenirs and bric-a-brac on both sides of the steps to Kek Lok Si Temple. While catching breath with the blowing wind, you will see a tortoise liberation pond where you can buy some vegetables to feed. Another alternative is to drive up and park near the vegetarian restaurant to avoid walking up flight of stairs. However, you will miss many souvenir stalls lined up both sides of the stairs.

After you get passing all the souvenir stalls, you will reach Ban Po Thar, a seven tier tower with a merge structure of Burmese at the top, Thai in the middle and Chinese at the bottom. In another three-storey shrine, there is a large Thai Buddha image donated by the king of Thailand. Besides that there are also several halls with old and new Buddhas and engravings, bell towers and other typical temple structures to visit at Kek Lok Si Temple.

The temple is set against scenic surroundings of beauty and tranquility with some features of gardens, sculptures and shrines. A short tram is available to see the both new and old giant statues of the Goddess of Mercy. Each year, during the Chinese New Year, the entire Kek Lok Si temple will be decorated with many colorful lanterns and lights. At night, when all the lights lit up, it is a beautiful sight to be experienced.

Prambanan Temple - Indonesia

The Prambanan Temple is the biggest and most beautiful typical Hindu temple which is located at Bokoharjo Village, Prambanan, East of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is 20-minute away from Yogyakarta city or about 18km east of Yogyakarta. Locally, this temple is also known as the Loro Jongrang Temple, or the temple of the "Slender Virgin." It is believed to have been established in the middle of the 9th century by King Balitung Maha Sambu or Rakai Pikatan, king of the second Mataram dynasty, during the Sanjaya Dynasty.

This beautiful temple, in fact, it is a group of Hindu temples (candi), with the largest temple stretching 47m into the sky. The massive collection of Hindu temples was believed to build in the 10th century by the rulers of central Java and defeaters of the Sailendra Dynasty, Mataram Kingdom. Many temples were damaged due to the earthquake in Java in 2006, but it was opened for visitors in 2007. This temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it is one of the largest Hindu temples in Southeast Asia region which has a characteristic of having pointed and typical Hindu temple architecture.

Many reliefs adorned the temple's walls depicting the famous epic of Ramayana. It possesses 8 shrines, of which 3 of them are dedicated to manifestations of Hindu Gods of Siva, Vishnu and Brahma. Siva is the biggest temple, the other smaller temples; on its right is Brahma and Vishnu is on its left. The main temple of Siva has a height of 130 feet and it contains 4 rooms with 4 statues inside, accommodating the magnificent statue of Shiva's consort, Durga.

In front of the Siva Temple is the temple of Nandi, the bull or a Siva's transport. The temple of Vishnu or the Protector has 4 arms and its front temple is the temple of the garuda (the mythical-like eagle). The temple of Brahma or the Creator has 4 heads and in front of Brahma's pad is the temple of the swan which is a Brahma's vehicle.

The Prambanan Temple has three concentric squares. They are outer square (222 x 390 meters), middle square (110 x 110 meters) and center square (34 x 34 meters) and these squares are surrounded by a one meter boundary wall with gates to connect to the other squares. No temples are found in the outer square, but there are 224 Perwara temples inside the middle square which are lined in 4 rows of temples. The first row contains 68 temples, followed by 60 temples in the second row, 52 temples in the third row and 44 temples in the fourth row. The temples are arranged in a manner that the lower lined outside and gradually getting higher and higher while approaching to its center. There are altogether 16 small and big temples inside the center square. There are also 50 stones of inscriptions written in white, black and red color at Prambanan Temple.

Mahabodhi Temple - India

Bodh Gaya or Bodhgaya is the holiest place associated with the life of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhist religion. Bodh Gaya is located in the central part of the Bihar state in the north-eastern India near the river Niranjana or the Falgu, which is also a part of the greatest Ganges plains and is 13km away from the Gaya town, 450km west of Calcutta, and 90km south of Patna.

It was in the 3rd century B.C.; Emperor Asoka built a monastery and temple here. This temple is used to be called the Bodhimanda-vihāra (Pali) but now it is named as the Mahabodhi Temple (literally means "Great Awakening Temple") that is the location where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha attained enlightenment. Bodh Gaya is then become an important Buddhist pilgrimage, a significant archaeological site and a vital study center which attracts many believers and tourists from all over the world every year coming to study Buddhism and the art of meditation, or to absorb the aura of solemn grandeur that surrounds Bodh Gaya. In 2002, Mahabodhi Temple became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mahabodhi Temple marks the spot where Buddha attained enlightenment and his life of preaching which is located adjacent to a descendent of the original Bodhi Tree.

It is marked by stone lotuses and has a 50m (170 feet) tower. The basement of the temple is 15m in length and in breadth with its height of 52m rising in the form of a slender pyramid until it reaches its neck which is cylindrical in shape. On top of the temple are Chatras which symbolize sovereignty of religion.

Four towers on its four corners rise gracefully giving a feel of holy structure. Inside the temple in the main sanctum, on an altar, there is a colossal image of Buddha in a sitting posture touching the ground by his right hand (bhumisparsha mudra), facing eastward at the place where Buddha immersed in meditation gazing east under the Bodhi Tree. This image is said to have a history of 1,700 years old. There are carvings on the stupas which aged 2,500 years ago depicting tales from Buddha's lives. Ratnagar is a place where the Buddha spend one week sitting there and according to the inscription it is believed that five colors came out from his body.

Chankaramana is another sacred spot of the Buddha and it is believed that wherever the Buddha put his feet the lotus flowers springing from his footsteps.

The 80-feet high Bodhi Tree (Pipal Tree Ficus Religiosa) and a pond is situated inside the temple complex where according to legends, Buddha had meditated here. The present 115-year old Bodhi Tree growing here is the 5th succession of the original tree which Buddha attained enlightenment or Nirvana by sitting under this tree.

It was recorded that the original Bodhi Tree's shoot was taken by a daughter of Ashoka, Bhikkhuni Sangamitta to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century, and the tree was then planted by the Lankan king, Devanampiyatissa at the Mahavihara monastery in Anuradhapura and this tree is said to flourish till today. This Bodhi Tree is also documented as the oldest and most venerated tree in the world. The red sandstone is said to be the Vajrasana, diamond throne or the seat of enlightenment, on which Buddha sat on while meditating under the Bodhi Tree. The platform beneath the tree has a stone carving of Buddha's footsteps where the devout make flower offerings.

There are quadrangular stone railing with a height of 0.2m around the Bodhi Tree and the Mahabodhi Temple. Lotus motifs are used among these ancient railings. The older set of railings were made of sandstone dated back to about 150 B.C. while the other set of railings were believed to make from course granite dated back to Gupta period (300 - 600 A.D.). The older set portrays a design of Lakshimi being bathed by elephants, Surya riding a chariot drawn by four horses, but figures of stupas, Garudas are found on the other set. A visit to the Bodh Gaya Archaeological Museum is a must for religious art enthusiasts as they can see gold, bronze and stone images of Buddha. Apart from that a large collection of Buddhist sculptures from 1st century B.C. to 11th century A.D. are well kept at one place here.

Another interesting spot to visit is a Jewel Walk or Chankramanar which was built as a low platform adorned with 19 lotuses lining parallel to the Mahabodhi Temple on its north side. It is believed that the Buddha was strolling here while he was in a deep thought during the second week after his supreme attainment. In this place a stupa called Animeschalochana was built which is situated to the north of the Chankramanar.

Since 1953, Bodh Gaya had an architectural amalgamation of many cultures as it had been developed as an international place of pilgrimage. Most Buddhists came over from different countries to construct their representative architectural monasteries in Bodh Gaya. Thus, one will see a Thai temple which looks very much like a typical colorful Wat of Thailand, Tibetan temple and monastery houses the massive Dharma Chakra or the large prayer wheel, Burmese monastery, Japanese temple (Indosan Niponji) that has a very beautiful image of Buddha brought from Japan, and Tai Bodhi Khan monastery built by Buddhist tribes from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. There are also Vietnamese, Nepalese, Taiwanese, Sri Lankan, Bhutanese, Korean and Bangladeshi monasteries. Many shrines were constructed with enshrined images for use as places of worship. There were also a large number of images of Buddha and the carved inscriptions showing that pilgrims from Sri Lanka, China and Myanmar had visited this place between 7th and 10th century A.D.

The City of 10,000 Buddhas - United States of America

The City of 10,000 Buddhas which is situated in Talmage, Mendocino Country, California is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in the United States. It was established in 1976 and Master Hsuan-Hua is the founder of this city.

The city is noted particularly for its Dharma Realm Buddhist University, Tathagata Monastery, Joyous Giving House (convent), Instilling Virtue Elementary School and Developing Goodness Secondary School, International Institute for the Translation of Buddhist Texts and the Center for East-West Medicine. Another noted feature is the Jeweled Hall of 10,000 Buddhas which was constructed in 1982.

This hall accommodates a 6-meter statue of a thousand-handed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva (Guan Yin). Its walls are adorned with 10,000 images of Buddha. There are also murals adorned the outside wall of Jeweled Hall of 10,000 Buddhas.

Other interesting features to note have been described in details in my article here.

You're planning a family trip to Seattle and you want the most entertainment for your dollar. Who do you ask for ideas? Locals, of course. Here's a local's list of fun things to do and ways to travel that won't break the bank.

• Take a ride on a Washington State Ferry

   Leave your car behind and walk on at Pier 52 and ride for $6.70 round-trip ($5.40 for youth/$3.35 for seniors) to Bainbridge Island (30 minutes each way) or Bremerton (60 minutes each way). The scenery as you cross the Puget (pronounced pyu'jet) Sound is breathtaking, and if you choose to de-bark at either destination and walk a few blocks you'll find quaint shops and parks. For a sailing schedule check here.

• Check out the world-famous flying fish at the Pike Place Market

   Vendors sell everything from fresh flower bouquets to kitsch in three floors of possibilities. Don't miss the fresh doughnuts on the street level and many delicious restaurants peppered throughout the marketplace. Fresh seafood can even be packed up to take home with you or send to your favorite people.

• Forget the Space Needle where you'll pay $16 for an elevator ticket

   The Bank of America Tower (known to locals as the Columbia Tower) is 76 floors high (almost 100 meters higher than the Space Needle), and you'll pay about $5 to get to the observation deck on the 73rd floor. The only drawback is you'll have to go on a weekday during business hours to take the tour. You can call 1.206.386.5151 for tour schedules.

• Downtown buses are free to ride within the "Free-Ride" Zone

  This is basically all of the main downtown area. To find out how to get around on the bus you can go here and enter your current and destination locations and you'll get detailed instructions where to go and which bus(es) to ride. You can also ride the Seattle Street Car, a light rail that goes from the shopping district to east Lake Union, or the Monorail from the shopping district to the Seattle Center.

• Seattle Center Fountain

  On a sunny summer day you can't beat it. Set between the performing arts halls and the Pacific Science Center, the fountain shoots water from hundreds of jets, sometimes choreographed to music. Are you thinking, “I've seen that at the Bellagio in Las Vegas?” This is different- you can descend the steep concrete embankment and cool off in the spray of the fountain. Hours of entertainment for the kids-and it's free. But bring a change of clothes.

• Ye Olde Curiosity Shop on Pier 54 (1001 Alaskan Way)

  The coolest gross stuff in the city resides in this shop, including Sylvia and Sylvester, the mummies (yes, real mummies) that guard the back of the store, two-headed pigs in jars and an African voo-doo monkey wearing its intestines on its head. A few steps further is Ye Olde Curiosity Shop Too, a continuation of the first. You can just look around or find some very unique souvenirs.

• Lunch

  While you're down at the piers checking out the Curiosity Shop, head over to Anthony's Fish Bar for amazing fish tacos (it's a Seattle thing) or clam chowder. Or, for the best fish "n chips in town, go to Ivar"s. Nothing at Ivar's tastes bad, and their tartar sauce is arguably the best in the world. Not to mention they've been a Seattle institution for 70 years.

• Travel to Ballard and tour the Hiram M. Chittenden locks and the fish ladder

  The locks make it possible for boats to pass from Lake Washington to the Puget Sound and back. Boats enter a chamber that seals on either end and raises or lowers the water level to meet the level of the body of water they're heading toward. It's fun to watch and it's free entertainment. Be sure to cross over and check out the fish ladder. During peak salmon season you can peer through windows and watch hundreds of fish as they make their climb to the spawning grounds.

• Pacific Science Center

  It's a bit of a splurge, but if your kids love to see how things work it's worth the price. Depending on the size of your family it might be less expensive to buy a family season pass than to pay the entrance fee for one day, and you often get passes to the Imax Theater with your pass. Check before you buy.

• Experience Music Project

  Skip it. It's not worth the entrance fee-you'll be bored within 30 minutes. Trust us on this. No really. Don't do it.

• Alki Beach in West Seattle is Prime People-Watching Real Estate

  Take a picnic lunch and a blanket. The beach is sandy; there are several restaurants along Alki Avenue and lots of interesting people. If you stay until dusk you're in for an amazing sunset and view of the Seattle Skyline, so don't forget your camera!

• Tacoma

  If you've seen enough of Seattle you could take a day-trip about an hour to the south to Tacoma and check out the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium or watch some glass blowing at the Museum of Glass. You might even catch Dale Chihuly doing his thing.

When you travel to Seattle bring a variety of clothing. If it's the middle of summer you'll still need a jacket for the cool evenings and possibly even the days. Seattle natives know to dress in layers-you'll see a lot of Capri pants, t-shirts, hoodies and wind/rain resistant lightweight jackets. Bring your sandals, but also your socks. It's not a fashion faux pas to wear your wool socks with your Birkenstocks in Seattle. We recommend you also bring or plan to buy an umbrella, even in the summer. We can't keep our beautiful city green without a little rain, now can we?

1. Dumbarton Oaks

   On its website, Dumbarton Oaks bills itself as a research institute (part of Harvard University) "dedicated to supporting scholarship internationally in Byzantine, Garden and Landscape, and Pre-Columbian studies through fellowships, meetings, exhibitions, and publications". Well, that's just about enough to scare any tourist off.  But the intrepid tourist who shirks off such stuffiness and actually visits this little gem is treated with both a brilliant museum and a breathtaking garden. The museum, which is free, houses a world-class collection of Byzantine art that spans nine centuries as well as a Pre-Columbian collection of about 700 items including one of the most outstanding collections of Andean art found anywhere in North America. For those visiting the museum, make sure to ask to see the Music Room as part of your visit. It's well worth the hassle and, hey, it's free.
   
   Most people visiting Dumbarton Oaks skip the museum altogether and head right to the gardens. I have to admit, I am not garden lovers, but after strolling through this maze of sensory overload, I am a convert. Whether you are interested in the art of landscape design or just anxious to see a pretty scene, the gardens are for you. I barely saw all of the gardens on my visit, however, because I was mesmerized by the peace and calm of the two-hundred-year-old Orangery attached to the east side of the main edifice (an architectural delight in and of itself) and could barely escape. It is hauntingly beautiful.
   
   The rest of the garden is, well, just beautiful. Plan carefully when you go because the museum is only open from 2 p.m. to 5 p. m. except Mondays and the gardens are only open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on those same days.

2. The Old Post Office Tower

   Okay, so maybe the Old Post Office Tower isn't as sexy as the Washington Monument. Fair enough. But battling 80 Boy Scout troops from San Diego to Sheboygan for a trip up the Big Pencil is not my idea of vacation bliss. I'll take my chances at the OPOT. Home to the Bells of Congress, the Old Post Office Tower, is now operated by the National Park Service and is entirely free to the public. It isn't quite as centrally located as the Big Pencil, but it's right on Pennsylvania Avenue and has a bird's eye view from the Capitol to the White House with a little glimpse at the J. Edgar Hoover Building and the inner courtyards of some of Washington's most hallowed halls. I also think the view up to the National Cathedral is noteworthy and impressive. A simple elevator trip and a few stairs are the only cost in this one.
   

3. National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism

   Dedicated in November 2000, the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism is a little-known, yet well-conceived monument that not only honors Japanese-American servicemen and women, but gives a nod to the 120,000 American citizens placed in internment camps at the outset of WWII. These citizens endured tremendous hardships as they were taken from their homes and carted off to places like Minidoka, Idaho and Topaz, Utah all because their skin was a slightly different hue. With that in mind, it would seem reasonable that the memorial might be kind of a downer, but the memorial is anything but a downer. Comprised of a sculpture of two cranes surrounded by a clean circular wall engraved with the names of the "relocation camps", the memorial deftly points out the struggle of Japanese-Americans to gain acceptance and equality, but does so subtly, almost as if to inspire rather than condemn.
   
   The memorial is tucked away just north of the Capitol on a triangular plot bounded by Louisiana Avenue, New Jersey Avenue and D Street NW and is cared for by the National Park Service as part of the National Mall.

4. National Postal Museum

   If you are one of the approximately 13 people out there in our country that still collects stamps or occasionally sends cookies to the college student by snail mail, this museum is a must. If you are like the rest of us and think Cheers patron, Cliff Clavin, is a doofus, this museum is also a must. Complete with a Philatelic Gallery and a display of WWII V-mail correspondence, the National Postal Museum takes itself very seriously. Exhibits are very interactive and museum workers are literally everywhere to help and guide. On my visit, the staff of the museum grabbed my family and me at the door and wouldn't let us go. Not only did they dress up my little girl in the trendiest postal garb, they strapped a mailbag on to my considerable frame and cajoled me into decorating my own postcard and sending it back home. It wound up being a highlight of our trip.
   
   Keep in mind, this is postal history, and it's not for everyone, but well worth a trip. The Museum is part of the Smithsonian and is located in the old Post Office next to Union Station.
   

5. The Reflecting Pool on the National Mall

   The National Mall is often called the Nation's front yard. Well, if that's true, then the Reflecting Pool is the Nation's plastic swimming pool? Whatever. If you want to get reflective and think about the history of our country or you want to contemplate life's lingering questions, the pool fits the bill, but I like it because it's a total magnet for Americana. America, in all its personal glory and quirkiness, is found within a stone's throw of the Pool. Protestors chant and yell on the steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Vets quietly stroll along its banks. Busloads of screaming, laughing teenagers splash and frolic while children walk a tightrope on its edge. It's a microcosm of the ol' United States of America and I love it. The Reflecting Pool is hard to miss as its in the very center of the Mall.

The Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival

The Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival is an eight day festival held annually to showcase local and international talents in the field of Jazz. The Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival 2008 will be held on June 8-15. This summer festival in Jamaica hosts free concerts everyday comes complete with photo exhibitions of famous Jazz artists on display. The creators of the Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival works with the Youth Programme in Jamaica to enrich the lives of young Jamaicans through their music program, mentorship and sponsorship

The Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival started in the summer of 1991 as an experimental one day event called The Ocho Rios “Mini” Jazz Festival. From there, it quickly gained much deserved recognition in Jamaica and across the globe. Many tourists come to Jamaica during the summer to hear the melodies and musical styling of local and international Jazz greats.

International Reggae Day

International Reggae Day is held on July 1 each year to celebrate the impact of Reggae music around the world. People across the world first celebrated International Reggae Day in July1994, when millions of persons went online to listen to the broadcast of Reggae music streaming live from Jamaica. People who followed the on air and online media festival on International Reggae Day are also greeted with messages from popular Jamaican artists such as Jimmy Cliff, urging people online to support Reggae music.

But International Reggae Day in Jamaica goes far beyond on air and online media displays. In Jamaica, there is an annual International Reggae Day Festival held in Kingston that features many local Reggae artists, Jamaican poets and dancers. Each year an International Reggae Day Award is presented to a Reggae artist whose creative work extols the virtues and spirit of Reggae music. In the rest of the island there are many local events in places such as Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios; just ask your hotel for any event they have planned for International Reggae Day or local celebrations nearby.

Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest

Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest is not only the biggest and best attended summer festival in Jamaica, but it is also the biggest Reggae festival in the world. Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest is a week-long summer event held each year on July 13-19 in the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex in Montego Bay, except for the Tropical Beach Party.

This summer festival has grown considerably in notoriety since its start in summer 1993 and many popular American, European and local acts grace the stage night after night to fuel the excitement of the events. Local artists such as Damien Marley, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Shaggy, Beres Hammond and Sean Paul are popular among Reggae Sumfest fans from across the globe. The events at Reggae Sumfest are split into categories such as Reggae Night, Dancehall Night, International Artists Night etc. Visit Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest for ticket prices and other details to this summer festival.

The National Festival of Arts

The National Festival of Arts is a summer festival in Jamaica that starts at the beginning of summer and ends on August 6 each year. At the National Festival of Arts, many Jamaican artists sell their local arts and crafts, which are sure to add value to anyone's travel souvenir collection. Local competitions are held during The National Festival of Arts to showcase not only Jamaican artistry, but also to showcase other areas of Jamaican culture: the summer festival features competition in culinary arts, speech, drama, painting, sculpture and dance among many others.

Emancipation Day

Emancipation Day is a Jamaican national holiday held on August 1 to commemorate the day slaves in the British Empire were finally emancipated. Story has it that slaves traveled to the hilltops of Jamaica on the eve of Emancipation Day to meet the dawning of a new day in their history on Friday August 1, 1838. And today, Jamaicans still mark this day in history by reenacting the reading of the Declaration of Emancipation and paying homage to their ancestors.

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Each year the Jamaican Prime Minister gives a speech that is broadcast live on local television from Emancipation Park. Emancipation Park is a newly-built Jamaican landmark in Kingston, built for the purpose of remembering the past: Jamaica's historical figures, national heroes, as well as to commemorate the growth of Jamaica since August 1 1838. Emancipation Park is a well-manicured landscape filled with palm trees and beautiful flowers and on Emancipation Day, many Jamaicans fill the park listening to Reggae music, celebrating and awaiting the Prime Minister's speech. This Jamaican summer holiday should not be missed if you want to learn about the culture of Jamaica.

Independence Day

Jamaica celebrates its day of national independence on August 6, just five days after its Emancipation Day celebrations. For this reason, the beginning of August marks a month of national and cultural pride among Jamaicans. Jamaica gained its independence from Britain on August 6, 1962 and since then it has been celebrating the birth of a new, independent country with annual firework displays across the island.

On Independence Day in Jamaica, many Jamaicans flock to the beaches to enjoy music, jerk chicken, fish and festivals and an all round day of fun in the sun. Jamaica's National Marching Band also marches in the streets of Kingston on Independence Day and a Float Parade also happens in Kingston, Jamaica's capital city.

.At night, people across Jamaica have many street dances in their local communities, where they indeed sweat up a storm and celebrate all that it means to live in a free nation. There is no better time to celebrate independence than in the summer and Jamaicans are prime examples of this idea. No matter what part of the island you are on, you are sure to find local Independence Day events, displays and celebrations that you can attend.

 

South Mountain Park

With 16,000 acres, South Mountain Park is named the largest municipal park in the country. What is great about this state park is there is horseback riding, hiking and mountain biking for all ability levels. So, whether your hike is to be a great workout or a slower pace stroll, there is a trail for everyone. The main entrance is open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Lost Dutchman State Park

Found in the Sonoran Desert at an elevation of 2000 feet, this park is shrouded in mystery and even has its own lost treasure legend. There are hiking trails, nature trails, 70 regular campsites, picnic amenities, and special programs throughout the year to keep you entertained if searching for gold isn't your thing. The superstition of the Mountains is based on Jacob Waltz "The Dutchman" who found a gold mine somewhere around Weaver's Needle. No one has found the mine because all tries have failed because of foul play, death, or missing and stolen maps. The park is open 365 days a year from sunrise to 10pm for you to go searching out the "lost mine".

Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park

Their mission as stated on their website is "to instil in people an appreciation of plants through the fostering of educational, recreational, research and conservation opportunities associated with arid land plants." At this park their main goal is to teach visitors about the 3,200 different desert plants within the arboretum, and the more than 230 bird and 72 terrestrial species that can be found along the 1.5 mile main trail. They have guided tours that have special themes such as "Plants of the bible", Bird Walks, and Butterfly Walks just to name a few. During May, June, July and August the Arboretum is open daily from 6:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., whereas from September-through-April admission is taken daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

So, which type of state park are you? Are you the adventurous type who likes to hike, or are you the treasure hunter who seeks out lost mines, or are you the more educational type who loves to learn about birds, animals, and plants? Either way there are some great state parks near Phoenix that can satisfy anyone's personality.