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Category: Awe

THE PERSONALIZED WORLD OF…GEWGAWS, BAUBLES, TCHOTCHKES, TRINKETS, KNICK-KNACKS, BIBELOTS, AND DOODAHS.

Why do so many of us surround ourselves with personal little treasures? Look around and you’ll probably see a number of little odds and ends on your desk, the bookcase, night stand, or in the kitchen. There are many answers to this…along with many questions. For…

EARLY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION AT THE LAKE HOUSE IN TEXAS

Marla and I celebrated an early Christmas at Stacy and Stan’s lake house on Cedar Creek Lake in Texas. The family will be touring India during the Holidays so we were happy to join them for early Christmas festivities. Vaughan is home for Christmas break from Auburn University…

ROUEN…A FASCINATING AND BEAUTIFUL CITY IN NORMANDY

Our boat docked at the Quai de la Savonnerie in Rouen, the capital of the French region of Normandy. We heard the city was fascinating, but we not prepared for its’ beauty. We were ready to disembark with our Uniworld guides. This is the magnificent Cathédrale Notre-Dame…

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA, THE GATEWAY TO THE AMAZING RUINS OF ANGKOR…part 1

Our wonderful AHI “Treasures of Southeast Asia” tour took us from Bangkok to Siem Reap, Cambodia. We stayed at the Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Resort. Our last visit to Siem Reap was in 2023 with two of our grandsons from Dallas. Our very first trip was in 1997 when…

PEACOCKS, 5 FOOT MONITOR LIZARDS, ANCIENT TEMPLES, TEA PLANTATIONS, A DANCING DEVIL… AND DELICIOUS REGIONAL CUISINE. SRI LANKA HAS THIS AND MUCH MORE. “OH, DID I MENTION…I TOOK A HARD FALL ON MY BIKE”.

We were transported to beautiful Kandy House boutique hotel after a 2 hour drive from Water Garden Sigirya.  In 1804, the last Chief Minister of the Kandyan kingdom built a palatial villa with local, moorish and dutch styles in the beautiful countryside near the former capital. 200 years later…

MARY & JERRY SHOW US…”THEIR LONDON”. ALL I CAN SAY IS…”WOW”!

Denver friends heard we were visiting London this past September and told us,…”We will meet you there and show you…our London”. They visit London 4-5 times a year and Mary went to the London School of Economics so we thought…”What…

MIRAZUR…WHAT IS IT LIKE TO DINE IN A RESTAURANT THAT WAS VOTED THE NO.1 IN THE WORLD.

I have always been one to celebrate special occasions of my life, important milestones as well as happy minor events. A BIG birthday this year necessitated going big the entire twelve months! You might think I’m being a little narcissisic, but I’ve always believed in &#8220…

THE PHOTOGRAPH…PART 1

Taking a photograph is my way of holding on to life, and to keep a special moment forever. I will share a few of my many favorites. In 2021 Marla was in the emergency room for heart failure while in California. Upon her return home she had to wear a…

BALI’S ANCIENT VILLAGE OF TENGANAN. EXOTIC WEAVINGS AND A ROOSTER NAMED…LADY GAGA.

Many years ago Marla and I visited an amazing village while touring in East Bali. The village is called Tenganan. The villagers are known as the “Bali Aga people” and are the original aboriginal inhabitants of Bali. They were living in Bali long before the ancestors…

REMEMBRANCES OF MY LIFE AS I CELEBRATE MY 80TH BIRTHDAY. PHOTOS FROM THE EARLIEST DAYS TO THE CURRENT WONDERFUL MOMENT. PART 1

Let me be totally honest…I really can’t wrap my brain around a BIG BIRTHDAY like this! The years have sped by so quickly. As with anyone there has been the occasional zig and zags, high mountains to climb, and a few rivers to swim without drowning…