Author: Ms. R.

The city of Usuki in Oita Prefecture is noted for its Stone Buddhas believed to date back to the 12th-century. Their origins are quite unclear, as no historical records of them have survived. According to local folklore, they were created in memory of a princess who died young, but according to archaeological evidence, this seems unlikely. There are about sixty of these Stone Buddhas, which are divided into four groups and located within the grounds of Mangetsu Temple. Carved……

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If you are ever moved to be needlessly cruel to someone hunkered down for the winter in a dull, drafty place, you might send them a picture of Heron Island. A lush, sand-fringed freckle several hours by boat from Gladstone, Australia, it looks like a screensaver version of paradise. Adorably dour-looking black noddies perch in Pisonia trees; green and loggerhead turtles stumble from the turquoise water each year to bury their eggs in the sand. But the most astonishing……

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Every year, on December 13, golden-hued saffron buns bake in ovens across Scandinavia. Eating this sweet bread—known as lussebullar or lussekatter in Sweden, luciabrød in Denmark and Norway, and lucia-pullat in Finland—heralds the celebration of St. Lucia’s Day. In Sweden, eldest daughters often serve their parents buns and coffee in the morning while wearing a white gown, red sash, and a candle-lined wreath crown. The costume pays tribute to St. Lucia, a Christian martyr who died in the fourth……

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The Shanghai Film Park is a working film and television studio based around a full-scale replica of Nanjing Road, Shanghai’s famous shopping area circa the 1930s. The set recreates iconic buildings from central Shanghai such as the five-story Sincere Company department store.  The streetscape was constructed for director Chen Kaige’s film, Temptress Moon with Gong Li and Leslie Cheung. The set has been reused for numerous productions over the years such as The White Countess and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor…….

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At the De Akkers metro station in Rotterdam’s suburb of Spijkenisse on November 2nd, 2020, a metro train breached the station’s end barriers and nearly plummeted over 30 feet from the elevated rails. All that saved the train and its operator was the fact the front carriage was caught and held aloft by one of two whale tail sculptures near the end of the track.  The driver, the only person aboard at the time, sustained no injuries and was……

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Through the village of Chevreuse runs a tiny offshoot of the Yvette river, gently traversing timeworn cottages, ancient wash-houses, and a medieval tannery. There are 22 “petits ponts,” “little bridges,” that span the river, crossing various pathways.  A popular walk for locals and visitors, this promenade is hidden behind high fences sandwiched between the backs (or fronts) of perennial houses and a modern car park. Perhaps the best times of the year to visit are during the spring, when the……

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As Edinburgh Castle rests on the remains of an extinct volcano, it’s prominently featured from several visual vantage points. A visitor is by no means cut short on photographic opportunities of this majestic sight. Anywhere along the tree line boulevard of Princes Street allows for a more naturalistic snapshot of the castle. One location that offers perhaps the best views is unknown to many travelers and is tucked away in a hidden corridor off the Grassmarket. These are the……

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