If you’ve got a trip to Vietnam set in your sights, be sure to tick these amazing places off your bucket list.
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Mandalay Palace was the primary royal residence of King Mindon and King Thibaw- the last two kings of the country. As Mandalay was the last home of Myanmar royalty, many things in Mandalay have to be associated with the palace. During a century or so under the British rule, the chief symbols of sovereign, independent Myanmar were the royal palace, the moat and the walls around it. Those things were considered as the pride and glory of not only Mandalay but also the whole country.
The Kuthodaw pagoda in Mandalay comprises of a gilded pagoda, hundreds of shrines housing inscribed marble slabs and several pavilions. The pagoda is also called “the world’s largest book”, named after the 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings.
Foreign brands subtly creeping in to Chinese architectures. Can you spot them? It always renders a bizarre feeling everytime I walk into plazas, parks or ancient quarters when I see something that is irregular, or rather not from the same era when a certain building, house or compound was constructed. Oh well, I guess that is the price of modernization and globalization!
Shanghai’s boundary was formerly defined by a defensive wall. The Old City was the county seat for the old county of Shanghai. With the advent of foreign concessions in Shanghai, the Old City became just one part of Shanghai's urban core but continued for decades to be the seat of the Chinese authority in Shanghai. Notable features include the City God Temple which is located in the center of the Old City and is connected to the Yuyuan Garden.
One of the things that strikes me about Shanghai is the exquisite and state-of-the-art designs of their buildings. Smack right out of the subway is this building that beautifully lights up at night and served as our landmark.
The zigzag bridge is a common feature in classical Chinese gardens. According to local lore (and tourist guides!) zigzag bridges and paths are said to confound evil spirits that can only walk straight lines for whatever reason! But in actual fact, these bridges are mainly decorative features based on the the Zen principle of mindfulness. Their non linear construction forcing one’s attention on the here and now…….and slowing one’s pace just enough to take pleasure in each element of the skillfully cultivated landscape around.
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