Kyoto: A Cultural Expedition

Strolling through the historical city of Kyoto, which features a concentration of the Sui and Tang dynasties, you will feel at one with the ancient souls who once inhabited this great land. When you listen to the ancient stories, you will understand the cultural significance of this heritage emanating from the unbroken imperial lineage of ...

Raven Montmorency

A building in Kyoto.

5 Self-Care Practices During the CCP Virus Lockdown

While remaining isolated at home during lockdown, taking good care of your body and mind might prove a challenge. Since stores are running low on supplies, you might not get your hands on the beauty and health products that you regularly use. The spas and healing centers will also be closed. Under such circumstances, some ...

Raven Montmorency

Young woman isolated at home during lockdown.

New Zealand’s Queenstown

Stroll through this fairytale dreamland decorated with snow-white mountain peaks, inhaling the fresh air emanating from the translucent surface of a glacial lake. When the sunlight reflects off the pure, fresh snowfields, the temptations promised by this magical land of Queenstown are indescribable. Nestled beside Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown’s location boasts a wide variety of natural ...

Raven Montmorency

Lake Wakatipu.

The Hanging Temple

In 2010, Time Magazine revealed the world’s top 10 most precarious buildings, and on a list that included the Abu Dhabi Skyscraper and the Meteora Monasteries of Greece was the “Hanging Temple” of China. A great architectural feat in Chinese history, the gravity-defying monastery has remained wonderfully intact for over 1,500 years. Clinging precariously to ...

Raven Montmorency

The Hanging Temple.

Wu Wei: The Art of Effective Action Through Inaction

Wu Wei is one of the central pillars of the school of Taoism that emphasizes harmony. When literally translated, “Wu Wei” means “non-action,” but the concept of Wu Wei is not fully interpreted through this translation. It needs to be acknowledged that certain life concepts are often misrepresented as a consequence of language constraints. Keeping ...

Armin Auctor

A person practicing martial arts.

How a 9-Year-Old Girl Conquered an Arrogant Martial Arts Master

China has many child prodigies. Today, we will discuss the ignoble defeat of an arrogant martial arts master by a 9-year-old girl. In Shandong, many people practice martial arts. There is a much-celebrated folk tale that happened in Shandong 40 years ago. At that time, there was a family of three named Chen. Both parents ...

Michael Segarty

A 9-year-old girl.

Defying Science: The Mysterious Iron Pillar of Delhi

Delhi is steeped in history with a plethora of old monuments and historical artifacts.  One of the most curiosity-evoking structures you’ll find in Delhi is the iron pillar that stands smack in the center of the Quwwatul Mosque complex. The pillar is a metallurgical marvel. Made from 98 percent wrought iron, the pillar stands at ...

Armin Auctor

Delhi's iron pillar.

Bokator: The Martial Art Form Fighting for a Comeback

Almost every country has its own ancient martial art form. While Muay Thai from Thailand and Taekwondo from Korea have been making steady progress in terms of achieving global recognition over the years, Cambodia’s Bokator is one of those martial arts that is still struggling to find its way back from almost complete annihilation. Dating ...

Armin Auctor

Two martial artists sparring in Bokator.

Fossil Skull Casts Doubt Over Modern Human Ancestry

Griffith University scientists have led an international team to date the fossil skull of an early human found in Africa, potentially upending human evolution knowledge with their discovery. The Broken Hill (Kabwe 1) skull is one of the best-preserved fossils of the early species Homo heidelbergensis and was estimated to be about 500,000 years old. ...

Troy Oakes

The fossil skull of Homo heidelbergensis.

Angkor Wat: Mysteries of an Abandoned Ruin

We’ve long been fascinated with bygone, mysterious civilizations and their great cities hiding mythical treasures and secret arts. One particular place of interest is Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Centuries of wonder have long driven foreign explorers to explore the abandoned ruins left by these ancient people. Well, that’s the common backdrop of explorer movies like ...

Raven Montmorency

Angkor Wat.