Top Travel Tips and Destinations: March 2013

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Duong Lam, Ancient Vietnamese Village

Duong Lam, an ancient Vietnamese village about 47 kilometres from Hanoi is a gem of a place to visit. We went one weekend to see for ourselves. The market was in full swing when we arrived in the village. We parked and started to go around this typical Vietnamese rural village. But many things are not typical here in Duong Lam.

Some of the old structures, pagodas, ancestral homes, common houses, and wells date back hundreds of years. Two Vietnamese kings were also born here.

Going around the village, old doors and windows intrigued us as they often do. Then, the owners of some of these family pagodas invited us to come in and have a peek at these ancient structures. We were really impressed with how well preserved some are. The furniture were still there as well as the tools they used to polish the rice and to grind the corn. They still have their family wells and some still cook in the old kitchen.

One ancestral pagoda, about 400 years old, surprised us most especially because it was Holy Saturday. This pagoda did not have the usual statues. Instead, at the centre is the picture of Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help and around are pictures of saints in the Catholic Church. The owner's grandfather became Catholic during the French period so he has an altar in his pagoda.

Aside from this, he showed us how he makes rice wine. In fact, he made us sample some. It was sweet with a lovely smell.

We visited the 18th century Mong Phu communal house as well as the other family pagodas. The people are very friendly. We ended our visit in the Mia Pagoda and joined the locals in asking for a blessing.

Other Places to Explore in Vietnam:

West Lake, Hanoi
Perfume Pagoda

Monday, March 25, 2013

House of Mary in Ephesus

We were in Turkey last February. Upon arriving in Istanbul, we looked at some of the day trips on offer. The day trip to Ephesus got us interested. And what was the draw for me? The House of the Virgin Mary.

This intrigued me more than the Greek and Roman ruins which we have seen many of. Besides, after Turkey, we were to go to Sicily and there would be lots of these over there. The House of the Virgin Mary was worth seeing. The story around the founding of this house is quite intriguing. As if, it really wanted to be found.

Legend claims that the Virgin Mary stayed in this house when after the death of Jesus, the Apostle and Evangelist John brought her here. Jesus entrusted her to John so he must have taken cared of her. It is said that she stayed here until her Assumption. There's a community not far from here who come for pilgrimage here every Assumption Day, August 15. Said practice has been a tradition in this community for many generations so who knows maybe it started after Mary's Assumption.

Anyway, the place is now used for pilgrimage and prayer. I did light a candle for special intentions and prayed for many family members and friends.

Here are some of my pictures of the place:

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Why Visit Turkey

Turkey has now become one of my top cities to visit. As the only city to claim it's in 2 continents, Europe and Asia, it is interestingly unique. We stayed there for a week and although we stayed in Istanbul we also visited Ephesus and Cappadocia. You really must schedule these two places in your itinerary when you plan your trip to Turkey.

The mix of cultures from the locals who lived there years ago to the Greeks, Romans and the Ottomans as well as the northern Africans who also went to its shores made today's Turkey a fascinating place not just for its heritage sites but for its food, art and crafts.

I have now started reading some of the novels about this wonderful country. I just finished A Thief's Tale by the famous historical fiction writer, Turney. Often, although fiction, these novels give me a picture of life at that time.

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