You have two feet. Travel by them.
Leave footprints wherever you go
I love traveling. I love cities, mountains and small towns. Mostly I like pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone (yoga poses included).
Here is my invitation to you — hop on board and join me in discovery. Not only of far away places but self-discovery. I promise to find the unheralded and unusual. I’ll share with you my photos and secrets on how to find vegetarian food all over the globe. Ha, but don’t worry, carnivores and omnivores can always find their preferred fare.
Travel has been my passion for 15 years now. And, the world has changed. I must travel farther and deeper to find the cultural differences that set the stage years ago.
I’ll share my trips with you. Even my short hops. I’m happy to share tips and my experiences. This is not a travel blog. It is YOUR travel blog. Come along with me now and make sure you share your experiences too.
Travel History
The more you travel, the more you understand. There’s so much to discover about the world – the beauty and complexity of every experience is worth stretching yourself.
Countries
Cities
Continents
Recent Travels
Snippets from my most recent excursions. Sure, you will find the Pyramids, Eiffel Tower and the Tower of London. But, it’s the little things and real people that make travel memorable. I try to get people (including myself) in most photos because when we are dead our family will throw all the landscapes away. All that really matters is the humanity that we chronicle.
Touring in Delhi
Old Delhi Old Delhi is a cacophony of sounds, fragrances, smells and humanity. Mostly a commercial center. The narrow and crowded streets...
Travel Gallery
Every picture tells a story don’t it. So wrote Rod Stewart and Ron Wood, but you don’t need to be a poet (or a professional photographer) to tell your story. Just capture your moment and cherish it always.
Cuzco, Peru
Antartica
Blue ice
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Tom and our friend Tenzin
Brussels Belgium— Near The Grand Place
Belgian Waffles. Almost all the shops are pretty good. I think Vitalgaufre might just be the best however
Pisco sour
The dark spots are drops of bitters. Removes any scent of egg in the froth.
Castellar del Riu, Catalonia, Spain
Morgan is always ready for an adventure
Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Reuss, Lucerne, Switzerland
Rupit i Pruit, Catalonia, Spain
A quick break from hiking.
Nisos Thira, Ia, Cyclades, Greece
Can Tho, Thành Phố Cần Thơ, Vietnam
Live crabs. Each is individually tied up.
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Tibetan woven cloth
Lima, Peru
A very Catholic country .The Spanish missionaries incorporated some of the indigenous traditions. Our guide had given up his Catholic faith. He saw it as destroying his native culture and spiritualism.
Rome, Lazio, Italy
One of many spectacular Churches in Rome, The Eternal City.
Berlin, Germany
Touring the Berlin Wall by bike throughout the City of Berlin
Paragliding
Paragliding
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Gambrinus – Barcelona’s Giant Lobster Statue The 10m long fibreglass sculpture was designed and built by Spanish artist Javier Mariscal
Nyhavn, København K, Capital Region, Denmark
Nyhavn is a 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Nisos Thira, Akrotiri, Cyclades, Greece
Most guides will include lunch in your excursions. Make sure you let them know of any dietary restrictions in advance.
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Gelato. This was one of the best
Shenandoah National Park
A western view from Big Meadows. At dusk, Big Meadows is crawling with brown bears.
Interlaken, Bern, Switzerland
Dizzing view of Interlaken. An interesting town, but seemed to have more foreigners than locals.
Interlaken, Bern, Switzerland
Old Delhi India
We get to ride, The driver has to pedal.
Antarctica, South Atlantic Ocean
Dramatic ice flow
Geneve Switzerland
Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Berlin Germany
Biked to and through the Tiergarten. Holding up a digital cover of “In the garden of beasts.” I am standing where the home of William Dodd once stood. He was ambassador to Germany as Nazi tensions grew in Germany.
Ethnic minority in Beijing China
China is a mix of ethnic roots.
Parker House, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Express elevator to the executive level
Near Tushita Buddhist Meditation Center Dharamshala India
Geshe Lobsand Dhargyal. We were cold and Geshe-la lent me his robe. A Geshe degree is an equivalent of a Doctorate in Buddhism. We had just met him and became fast friends
Brussels Belgium
The Grand Place. The Tall spire is the Town Hall. The Grand Place was named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1998. The place is now primarily an important tourist attraction. A number of guild houses have been converted into shops, terraced restaurants and brasseries. Notable institutions include Godiva Chocolatier and the Maison Dandoy speculoos confectionery. One of the houses owned by the brewers’ guild is home to a brewers’ museum.
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Filling herbal prescriptions at the Men-Tsee-Khang Clinic. We had an appointment with Dr.Tsewang Tamdin— current Tibetan Doctor to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Nisos Thira, Thira, Cyclades, Greece
Surprise! I think I scared Connor who took this picture.
Richoux, Cream Tea, London UK
We always stop in because we always stop in. It’s only special to us.
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Tibetan prayer wheels on the kora
Mittenwald, Bavaria, Germany
I love these signs. I can’t stop photographing them.
My Tho, Tỉnh Tiền Giang, Vietnam
Old Buddhist temple in the Chinese style
Blarney, Co. Cork, Ireland
Nisos Thira, Thira, Cyclades, Greece
Getting centered
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Theatre of Marcellus, Capitoline Hill
London UK
The Shard
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Butter tea and a coffee Tibet Kitchen Jogiwara Road, House #1 Main Square, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219
Brussels Belgium
Called Mannekin Peace (a play on the statue Mannekin Pis), The piece was painted by artist HMI a Belgian hip-hop artist. It’s just down the street from the Mannekin Pis fountain.
Old Delhi Street Vendor
Bare feet near hot oil. Safety is not a main concern
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
A monk waiting to see Dr.Tsewang Tamdin a traditional Tibetan Doctor. The clinic is free and specializes in traditional Tibetan Medicine. The consultation included a shockingly accurate diagnosis simply bu taking your pulse.
Graslei, Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium
Sitges, Catalonia, Spain
Sculpture Of Mediterranean Woman. Visit things of interest at different times of the day. Light sets very different moods.
IMG_5861
Berlin, Germany
Carnivore Special
Brugge, West Flanders, Belgium
Palácio Nacional da Pena, Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Sintra, Lisbon, Portugal
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Mani stone on the kora. Om mani padme hum
Dingle, Co. Kerry, Ireland
“A terrible beauty is born”— Yeats. The sheep are died to indicate ownership.
Gandhi Smriti, New Delhi, Delhi, India
Ghandi’s last footsteps
Nisos Thira, Oia, Cyclades, Greece
Nisos Thira, Oia, Cyclades, Greece
Omi, County of Split-Dalmatia, Croatia
View from the boat. Sometime, architecture seems to reflect the landscape.
Greece’s Ionian Sea
The water is warm and crystal clear.
Mittenwald, Bavaria, Germany
Home to the violin making industry.
Castellar del Riu, Catalonia, Spain
I actually enjoy looking down. Once you get over any fear of hight, this is a total rush.
Omi, County of Split-Dalmatia, Croatia
It’s challenging to be a vegetarian in Croatia. But with a bit of planning you can make it work
Dubrovnik, County of Dubrovnik-Neretva, Croatia
The Dubrovnik-Neretva County (pronounced [dǔbroːʋniːk-něreːtʋa]; is the southernmost Croatian county, located in south Dalmatia.
Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Peru
The Great Blasket Island, Ireland
All Irish kids read “Peg”. Peig Sayers was an Irish author and seanchaí born in Dunquin (Dún Chaoin), County Kerry, … Peig moved to the Great Blasket Island after marrying Pádraig Ó Guithín, a fisherman and native of the island, on 13 February 1892
Nisos Thira, Oia, Cyclades, Greece
Old Delhi India
Henna tattoo. Don’t wash it for a few hours while the mixture stains the skin. It lasts a week or two.
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
I don’t ride elephants anymore. The more I learn the more cruel I find the practice
Madre de Dios, Peru
On expedition in the Amazon.
Cusco, Cuzco, Peru
Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Madre de Dios Peru
In the Amazon Jungle. Just a bit of perspective.
Parc du Champ de Mars, Paris, Île-de-France, France
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Ancient carvings that are still well maintained
Ventry, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Mürren, Bern, Switzerland
Friedrichstadt-Passagen, Berlin, Germany
Augustiner am Gendarmenmarkt, one of the better Bavarian Restaurants in Berlin
Nisos Thira, Ia, Cyclades, Greece
Water clearer than the Caribbean.
Rothenburg Germany
The “snowballs originated here”. By the way, “th” in German is pronounced with a hard “T”. So it is pronounced “Rotenburg”.
Chicago Theater, Chicago, Illinois, United States
We want to see standup here. A terrific venue.
Bavaria, Germany
Munich
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Hirschgarten. The restaurant is noted for its beer garden, which is the largest in Munich and probably the largest in the world. It has seating for over 8000 people.
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Roma Sparita Restaurant, The best Cacio e Pepe in Rome!
Nisos Thira, Thira, Cyclades, Greece
A new definition of a Greek salad.
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Namgyal Monastery. The Personal Monastery of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
From Temple of Venus and Rome, Rome, Lazio, Italy
Buy your tickets and hire a guide in advance and avoid most of the lines.
Antartica
Ice Flows. Maybe its because of the contrast in cloys but I have never seen such blue
Porrera, Catalonia, Spain
Andrew. You become fast friends when you hire a private guide.
Nisos Thira, Thira, Cyclades, Greece
White washed buildings only make the place more magical
Interlaken, Bern, Switzerland
Lake Brienz. It has a length of about 14 kilometres, a width of 2.8 kilometres and a maximum depth of 260 metres. Its area is 29.8 square kilometres, and the surface is 564 metres above the sea-level.
Ollantaytambo, Cuzco, Peru
The terraces were meant for agriculture. They even had an irrigation system built in.
Galapagos Islands, South Pacific Ocean
Old Delhi India
Human power. Hard work in the heat of Old Delhi.
Cusco Peru
Plaza De Armas. Reminded me a bit of the Mummers parade in Philadelphia. But without all the annoying banjo music.
Vienna, Austria
Why would anyone drink beer in the presence of such great coffee?
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cotton candy carnival fare.
Palácio Nacional da Pena, Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, Sintra, Lisbon, Portugal
The Pena Palace is a Romanticist castle in São Pedro de Penaferrim, in the municipality of Sintra, on the Portuguese Riviera. Looks like a perfect miniature. But it is anything but tiny.
Cusco Peru
Coca leaf tea. Believed to reduce altitude sickness. Carmen Bajo 120, Cusco 08003, Peru
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
He photo bombed me everyday
Interlaken, Bern, Switzerland
This was one of my first times paragliding. What a thrill.
H. Cai Lậy, Tỉnh Tiền Giang, Vietnam
She makes these thin— almost transparent pancakes all day long
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India. Tom and his daily latte
Coffee Talk.Great coffee, butter tea and the most amazing and helpful employees
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
The Kalachakra Temple us just ahead on the right.
Nisos Thira, Thira, Cyclades, Greece
A chapel at the end of the road. It’s a destination not a thoroughfare
Berlin, Germany
Augustiner am Gendarmenmarkt. Beers as large as your head. Very good though. Weis Beer.
Vierwaldstätter See, Seelisberg, Uri, Switzerland
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University Chiang Mai Campus, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Thai buddhist art is distinctive from all other types
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Dharamsala. Just one of the little gems found all over Dharamsala
Vatican Museums, Vatican City
The wealth and art work is staggering.
Castellar del Riu, Catalonia, Spain
Pure fun. Always over too quickly.
Munich Germany
The answer is always the same…witbier— “Prost”
Old Delhi
From the perspective of the vendors. She was happy to allow me to sit with her.
Lima, Peru
“The Home Of Sigh” by Jade Rivera is by the Bridge Of Sighs, one of the main sights in the Barranco. The mural is supposed to symbolize the love in the neighbourhood.
Graslei, Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium
The quay opposite of the Graslei is called Korenlei. Both quays were part of the medieval port and are now a cultural and touristic hotspot of the city
Akrotiri, Cyclades, Greece, Aegean Sea
I don’t just like hanging out. I like being active. But this kinda was both.
Antartica
My sis Jennifer and I
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso
With His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
Still beautiful.
Berlin, Germany
Prater Beer Garten. Berlin’s oldest.
Šibenik, County of Sibenik-Knin, Croatia
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Buddhism. Even in street art.
Rome, Lazio, Italy
The Spanish Steps
Sông Cần Thơ, Can Tho, Thành Phố Cần Thơ, Vietnam
A REAL floating market. Not a tourist concoction
Setubal, Portugal, Atlantic Ocean
The boat ride is always fun but the excitement is in jumping in.
Munich, Bavaria, Germany
A food break on a beer tour
Cornudella de Montsant, Catalonia, Spain
Bottoms up! Tastes are an important part of traveling.
Mürren, Bern, Switzerland
Brugge, West Flanders, Belgium
Grote Markt
Cuzco, Peru
Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Belém Tower,officially the Tower of Saint Vincent, is a 16th-century fortification located in Lisbon that served both as a fortress and as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Tom hearing first hand recounting of the Killing Fields nightmare by a survivor. His whole family was killed. he alone survived.
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Elderly Nun. I saw her almost every single day.
Antartica. Me taking The Polar Plunge
Photo taken by my talented sister Jen Cross
Brussels Belgium
The Grand Place Guilds. From 1421 onwards, they were represented in the city government alongside the patrician lineages of the Seven Noble Houses of Brussels, later also in the States of Brabant as members of the Third Estate. Some of their guildhouses can still be seen as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Grand Place in Brussels.
Bavaria, Germany
Munich
Beijing, China
The face of children.
Archaia Epidavros, Argolis, Greece
This is REAL. Not a painting
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Cachitos. Grab an outdoor seat. Ronda de Sant Pau, 4, 08001 Barcelona, Spain. Sangria. White or Red. Both are great.
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Chile Fries at Jimmies Italian Restaurant
Interlaken, Bern, Switzerland
Sông Tiền Giang, H. Cái Bè, Tỉnh Tiền Giang, Vietnam
Commerce is mostly by water here
Parker House, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Breakfast in the ornate lobby
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Little girl in pink.
Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib— Sikh Temple
Maybe helping make Naan. I was not fast enough to make the cut! These folks volunteer their time feeding anyone who comes. it s all free.
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Free at last! We were locked into the Museum by mistake at their lunch break.
Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Chillin
Nisos Thira, Thira, Cyclades, Greece
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Tom speaking with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Mani stone. They are all over the kora
Madre de Dios, Peru
Scarlet Macaws In the Amazon. What a sight to see flocks of them in flight.
Sitges, Catalonia, Spain
iL Pirate. Who says you can’t eat like royalty as a Vegetarian?
Beijing, China
Elaborate head piece. Jade and precious gems.
Plaza De Armas, Cuzco, Peru
Nisos Thira, Thira, Cyclades, Greece
Connor has a weakness for kitties
Beijing, China
The Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven is an imperial complex of religious buildings situated in the southeastern part of central Beijing.
Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
We had a short audience with His Eminence Ling Rinpoche —Sr. Tutor to the H.H. The Dalai Lama. The photo above him is that of his previous incarnation
Bern, Switzerland
Split Croatia
Sea kayaking in the Adriatic Sea. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto to the northwest and the Po Valley
Freising, Bavaria, Germany
Obazda.
Antartica
Can’t help but think of the Endurance
Old Delhi, India
Such an expressive face. Bartering for goods is a means to get into the local culture.
Nisos Thira, Cyclades, Greece
Look at the hand painting on that bucket. Real folk art.
Siem Reap, Cambodia
The temples of Angkor are situated in the northwest province of Siem Reap. There are more than 1000 temples, built between the 9th and 13th centuries
Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi, Thailand
They love a good scrubbing
Greece’s Ionian Sea
Connor is game for most anything. She loves kayaking as much as I.
Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna, Austria
Hitler announced the Anschluss, from the portico on top of the entry, which refers to the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938.and it was also known as the Anschluss Österreichs
Antartica
Ocean Kayaking with my sister Jennifer.She is an accomplished wildlife photographer.
Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
The Silver Pagoda is located on the south side of the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh. The official name is Wat Ubaosoth Ratanaram as known as Wat Preah Keo Morakot which is commonly shortened to Wat Preah Keo in Khmer.
Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium
Doors at Gravenseen. The Gravensteen is a medieval castle at Ghent
Old Delhi India
Henna tattoo on the street. Intricate and done freehand.
Berlin, Germany
Neue Kirche. Open air bistros all around it in the evenings
Athens, Greece
Colorful and very well done
Rupit i Pruit, Catalonia, Spain
Our hiking guide Dan (voice of Magnum Chocolate Bars). Wear hats. The sun is unrelenting.
Rome, Lazio, Italy
Gelato!
Old Delhi India
Sharing the road with an Ox Cart. I remember once when my husband was almost crushed by one of these in Cairo.
Berlin, Germany
Part of the Berlin Wall on 1.3 kilometres along the River Spree
Dharmsala, Himachal Pradesh, India
Hotel Bahgsu Dharamsala. It is one of the few hotels in the town with a courtyard. I think they call it a beer garden for a reason.
Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium
Stadhuis Gent. The Gent Town Hall is one of the most breathtaking buildings in Gent Belgium
Interlaken, Bern, Switzerland
The water was a little milky because of the high mineral content
Inishmore – Galway, Ireland
Kelly green and royal blue. So much color it almost hurts your eyes