Slovenia and Hungary, Eastern Europe: Part Two.
Story and Photos by Ashok Khanna.
In Part Two of my Eastern European tour, the story continues with our final explorations as we cross the border from Croatia to Slovenia and our grand finale in Hungary. Slovenia: The drive from Opatija in Croatia to Ljubljana in Slovenia is 109km ( 68 miles), or about an hour and a half. On the way to Ljubljana, our group stopped at the Postojna caves, which are considered a masterpiece of nature. The exploration began with an amazing underground journey in a miniature train to reach the fantastic limestone formations, some huge stalagmites, and even an underground concert hall. Lingering as long as possible to take in the scene, we appreciated the opportunity to photograph the site.
East Europe Part One: Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina
Story and Photos by Ashok Khanna.
Like most people, I was feeling cooped up in the US after the pandemic, especially with the near-daily devastating news of mass shootings and vitriolic discordant politics. But I couldn’t leave until my new passport arrived. When it did, I scoured the Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) website for the first available spot for a single traveler to an interesting destination. I almost never travel with a tour company, but with the Covid virus still prevalent, I thought it would be safer as the company may have arrangements to help me if I got sick. A couple of people had suggested OAT because it catered to small groups and did not levy a supplement for a single traveler. The “Crossroads of the Adriatic” came up as the most interesting tour, with an opening in mid-June for travels through Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Hungary.
Highlights of a Cultural Journey in Japan, Part One.
Story and Photos by Ashok Khanna.
Impressions: “Arigato goziamsu” or “thank you” are words I heard most during my 20 days in Japan, usually accompanied by a slight bow or “eshaku,” signifying politeness. I joined an organized “cultural tour” of Japan with 13 other travelers, stopping in Tokyo, Hakone, Kanazawa, and Kyoto. My leading destination was Kyoto, the capital for several centuries that is known for its cherry blossoms and Buddhist and Shinto temples. I picked the dates of the tour on the off-chance that we would be there when the flowers were in full bloom, and they were.
Highlights of a Cultural Journey in Japan, Part Two.
Story and Photos by Ashok Khanna.
This article continues from Highlights of a Cultural Journey in Japan, Part One, in which a cultural tour of Japan engendered a new appreciation and understanding of the complexities of Japanese traditions in craft arts, paintings, and garden design. To better appreciate the traditions of the Samurai, we walked through a district in Kanazawa along narrow streets and canals. There, they lived in traditional houses with gardens surrounded by earthen walls and gates that signified their rank. Similar to the Geisha districts in Kanazawa and Kyoto, many of the small wooden houses have been well-preserved and converted into tourist areas with restaurants and shops.
Morocco: From Medinas to Desert and back
Story and Photos by Ashok Khanna.
On an Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) tour of Morocco with 11 fellow travelers from all over the US, I found the culture and melting pots of the medinas (bazaars) noteworthy, particularly in contrast with the isolation of the desert. Busy as the medinas were during the day,they came especially alive at night when small bands played local music, and some people danced. By morning, the contrast was striking with just stray cats and dogs scavenging for food, while small delivery trucks resupplied restaurants and shops.
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