Many holy places have impressive locations, and the Buddhist Cave Temples of Dambulla, Sri Lanka are, without a doubt, uniquely located. Continue reading
Category Archives: Beliefs
The Day the Monks Hit the Lotto
Many people can count the amount of gold they own, well, on one finger. Add in earrings, necklaces, and a few bracelets, then maybe you’re up to a couple of ounces. But imagine that you’re doing a bit of reorganizing around the house and discover 5 tons of gold sitting in your storage room. Continue reading
Tamata and Milagros: We All Need a Bit of Magic in Our Lives
It’s a universal truth that puppies, kittens, and kids the world over are drawn to shiny objects – and we were no different. In modern adult slang this attraction is called “bling,” but for devout Christians, tiny sliver charms are called milagros or tamata. Continue reading
It Takes a Village: Not a Cliché in Bali
Bali’s traditions for newborn babies have been called “weird and astonishing” and “ a gorgeous birth culture,” but regardless of descriptions, these customs provide travelers with a fascinating look into a complex culture. Continue reading
Pleased and Appeased: Bali’s Gods and Spirits
As a tourist destination, Bali is an island of superlatives. Whether you’ve been to Bali or not, it seems to show up on most wish lists for a first visit or a return. Continue reading
If You’ve Seen One, You’ve Seen ‘Em All: Not So Fast!
Our first trip to Europe was a whirlwind, 14-day, 6-country Eurail Pass-stoked attempt to see and do everything. Those were the days of boundless energy, endless curiosity, limited time, and scarce funds. Continue reading
Byzantine Church Supplies: Another World
We were strolling home from the Acropolis, past the inviting portals of an Eastern Orthodox church, and decided to take a quiet, narrow street we’d somehow missed on previous forays. We only encountered a few folks (a rarity in Athens), including a priest and his friends. Continue reading
