Tag: citizen diplomacy
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Orthodox Easter Celebrations in Ohrid, North Macedonia
This spring, we’ve had the fortune of observing Easter celebrations not once, but twice. In Croatia, where Catholicism predominates, we celebrated Easter in late March. This past weekend, in North Macedonia, we had the chance to observe Orthodox Easter festivities. The city of Ohrid has been dubbed the “Jerusalem of the Balkans” since it once…
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Albania and its 700,000 Bunkers: Profiling a Man Who Built Them
As our minibus chugged through the Albanian countryside during a 6-hour trip, my husband and I inadvertently created a new car game to pass the time: Who could first spot a bunker as a new one appeared in the ever-changing scenery? With nearly 700,000 bunkers still dotting this southeastern European nation’s landscape, the game didn’t…
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A Vietnamese New Year’s Reminiscence
When I unpacked the paper ox ornament last week, it reminded me why I love travel: serendipitous happenings, cultural immersion, and the opportunity to mingle with “citizen diplomats.” With today being the Lunar New Year (called Tết in Vietnamese), it seems fitting to reminisce on a special memory that I made while visiting Hanoi, Vietnam back in 2009.
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Backstage at Balinese Dance Class
In Jimbaran, Bali, we had the great fortune to have been befriended by a local resident named Mariana. Along with his extended family, Mariana exposed us to rich aspects of Balinese culture. We observed his nephew’s 42-day ceremony, as well as full moon celebrations at a neighborhood temple. We also participated in a Prana Shakti…
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Serendipitous Moments in Spiritual Bali
The past days have been serendipitous in mystical Bali with moments that seemed as though the perpetually honored spirits were communing to make our stay even more special.
