I have been in the construction stage of this site for a week straight, and I have to say that I am very happy with how my site has turned out. Jesse helped put in a Home button, I added an RSS feed, and I am now a member of Google+, which is basically like Google’s version of Facebook, and I highly recommend it, particularly for the privacy settings. New poems have been added to the Poetry section and new articles have been uploaded under Articles. I am reviewing a short story of mine for posting here under the Prose tab, and I am also reviewing Mirror, Mirror for uploading — all 32 chapters.
I was talking with my friend Mariana on MSN last night, and she was having some trouble deciding what to post for her blog that she has to do for her English class, so I suggested that she talk about places that she would most like to visit. I thought that was a great idea, so I decided to make a post of my own.
6. Austria — Judging from the thumbnail, how can you not want to go? Austria is a common skiing destination, but it also harbors a deeply rooted history in the arts, specifically music. Once part of the Prussian Empire, Austria is the birthplace of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (he was born in Salzburg) and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The country’s capital is Vienna, the City of Music, and many of the world’s greatest composers lived, worked, and were laid to rest in Vienna, notably Ludwig van Beethoven, Joseph Hayden, Johann Sebastian Bach, and many others. Romantic period composer Beethoven was known for venturing out into the beautiful, rolling Austrian countryside, which is where he drew his inspiration for his Sixth Symphony (Pastoral) and remains one of my all time favorite musical pieces.*image borrowed from thetravelpeach.com
5. Germany — I come from very strong German roots, so it should come as no surprise that Germany appears on my list. I love German food (except blood sausage) and German Riesling, and I have always wanted to see a Bavarian castle such as Neuschwanstein Castle (pictured on the left). Germany is bordered by Austria, so the cultures are not that different from each other. Germany is probably most noted for Oktoberfest held in Munich from the last week of September through the first weekend in October. Only beer brewed in Munich is allowed to be served, and one can enjoy the traditional foods offered at this popular event — in addition to guzzling several flagons of beer. *image borrowed from Neuschwanstein website.
4. India — I love Indian culture. The food, clothing, the people, the religion — India just fascinates me. While India is the second most populated country in the world, they have a rich history and a rich culture, and I’ve met some pretty nice Indian people here in the U.S. Notable places of interest include the Taj Mahal (shown at left), Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Darjeeling, and New Dehli.*image borrowed from pbs.org
3. China — Of all the cultures in the world, I would have to say that Oriental culture is the one I am most drawn to. China is one of the top places I would like to visit because of the breathtaking beauty and architecture the country has to offer. The Chinese revere beauty and tradition, and their history and culture is rich. China is home to the only man made structure visible from outer space, the Great Wall of China, originally built beginning in the 5th century B.C. and maintained through the 16th century on the northern border of the Chinese empire to keep out invading nomadic tribes. Shown at the left is the Forbidden City located in Beijing, which was once the home of the Ming and Qing Dynasties and the political center of China until 1912. One day, I hope to see the Forbidden City myself. *image borrowed from ChinaHighlights.com
2. Italy — The food, the art, the architecture; so many things to see, do and eat and so little time. Italy is deeply rooted in history being the location of the vast Roman empire, hence why its capital is Rome. All over Italy a traveler can find ancient architecture such as the mighty coliseum in Rome where ancient Roman gladiators would fight and the ancient city of Pompeii. Rich paintings by Michelangelo decorate the Sistine Chapel in Florence, and Vatican City is where Pope Benedict XVI resides. Oh, and we can’t forget that Leonardo daVinci once roamed the streets of Florence. And the food. I love Italian food. I have German roots, but I am beginning to wonder if I have some Italian somewhere in me. My brother and his family lived in Italy for four years, and he told me that Italian food there is nothing like it is here. Eating my way across the country sounds like a great plan to me! *image borrowed from destination360.com.
1. Japan — The place I most want to visit, and I want to go everywhere in Japan. The Japanese are a little like the Chinese in a sense that they value tradition and beauty. Their primary religions are Shinto and Buddhism, and they have several festivals throughout the year, most of them dedicated to nature. The most widely known festival is the Cherry Blossom Festival in which the Japanese usher in Spring after the long winter. Although the Japanese are very much Westernized, they still hold fast to deeply rooted traditions such as wearing kimono (or yukata if it is summer) for festivals and other special occasions. The ancient architecture is nothing short of majestic, as you can see from the picture of the Osaka Castle at the left. Their myths, folklore and legends are fascinating, their traditional art is amazing, and the food is good. If I ever go to Japan, I may never come back. *image borrowed from japanguidebook.com