Travel Archives
Table of Contents
Asia:
Japan: mega-site containing Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Mt. Fuji, and more
Sri Lanka: mega-site containing Colombo, Galle, Nuwara Eliya, Dambulla, Sigirigya, Kandalama, and Kandy
Australia:
Western Australia: mega-site containing Perth/Freemantle, Margaret River, Yallingup, Dwellingup
Europe:
Middle East:
Bali: Explore the charms of this Tropical Hideaway
Our extensive Bali web pages include visits to Ubud (including Ubud itself, as well as Murni's Warung and Villa Kunang-Kunang), Candidasa and the Water Garden Villas, as well as our fabulous anniversary stay at the Four Seasons Villas in beautiful Jimbaran Bay. Take a trip to paradise!
Bintan Island: A Short Getaway from Singapore
The
Banyan Tree Resort on Bintan Island is just an hour's hop by high speed ferry.
It terms of the pace of life and enjoyment of the charms of the tropics, it is a
million miles away from Singapore. Come join us for a tour
of this fabulous resort. . .
In February of 2004 Dale returned to Rajasthan, this time with a
group of 20 students from the Singapore American School. This "Rajasthan
Adventure" lasted 10 days and covered aspects of history, culture, nature,
and architecture in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. From the Taj Mahal to the
deserts of Pushkar, come visit the delights of Rajasthan. . .
Japan:
See Some of the Highlights of Japan:
Last February Dale and another SAS staff member (also named Dale) took students on an 8 day tour of Japan. Visiting Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo and Hiroshima, the trip explored many facets of Japanese life, including the history and culture (past and present) as well as experiencing a taste of how the Japanese live. The trip included a stay at a traditional Japanese inn, a homestay, a tour of the high-tech world of electronics, visits to ancient shrines, and even a trip to Universal Studios. To take a virtual tour of this trip, click here or on the image of Mt. Fuji. . .
Tioman Island: A Jewel of the South Pacific (in the South China Sea)
Tioman
Island, off the east coast of Malaysia, is a renowned diving site and a favorite
of golfers fleeing the high-priced greens fees in Singapore. It is also a
wonderful place to just hang out and soak up the sun, as we found over
Thanksgiving Break. Tioman is the setting of Bali Hai in the musical South
Pacific. Come discover this little slice of paradise,
where monkeys frolic on the golf course (no, the real ones, the animals!)
You
may remember this little corner of Southeast Asia as Burma. Whatever the name,
this still relatively isolated country is home to some of the wonders of the
ancient world. Our mega-site show the highlights of the capital city of
Yangon, including the spectacular
Shwedagon Paya, the ancient city of
Bagan with it fantastic
temples and stupas, and the beach area of
Nagapoli.
Click here or on the image to see all the
sights of this magical kingdom. . .
Sri Lanka:
Visit Some of the Highlights of Sri
Lanka
Our
single page on the Lighthouse Hotel (the photo on the right) has been expanded
to an entire virtual tour of Sri Lanka, thanks to a trip we took there in
December 2002. Come visit the cities of Colombo, Kandy and Galle. Visit the
spectacular ruins of Polunnaruwa and Sigiriya. Marvel at the Temple of the
Tooth, or tour a tea plantation in Nuwara Eliya. All this and more is just a
click away. To visit this beautiful island off the coast of India,
click here or on the picture
of the Lighthouse Hotel. . . .
Bangkok: Thailand's Capital City
We spent part of spring break enjoying the peaceful setting of
the Banyan Tree Bangkok, where we were pampered during a three day visit. In
addition to the spa retreat, we also got to sample some of the unique shopping
opportunities afforded by Bangkok's capital city.
Come along for some shopping and relaxation
Western Australia: Visit The Outback
Singapore American School sponsors ten-day trips in February of each year.
Along with another faculty member, I escorted 20 students on a journey
through Western Australia. Camping out under the stars, we climbed, went
caving, sailed, canoed, visited towns and ranches. The entire trip is captured
day-by-day, activity-by-activity on this web page, which I made for the
school. The site is very interactive, with movies, diary entries, videos,
sounds--you name it! Click
here or on the photo to the left to visit Western Australia
Take
a virtual tour of the historic landmarks in and around the Westminster area. The
tour contains a separate virtual tour of The Tower of London, and panoramic
views from the British Airways Eye and Trafalgar Square. To begin the tour,
click here or on the image of Big Ben. At
last, a trip through London without rain or cold!
Experience the Charm of Mougins
Mougins
is a town of unalloyed charm, nestled in the mountains of Provence, overlooking
the Mediterranean. It is a village of scenic beauty, and a gastronomic
haven. Let's take a stroll through through the
heart of the city center and take in its medieval charm. . .
Visit a Villa in Cabris: Provençal
Living
Take a virtual reality tour of the L'adret
de Ribas Villa in Cabis, Provence where we enjoyed our second visit in
four years.
Take a Day Trip to Biot
Biot
is a village renowned for its crafts, particularly the distinctive glassware
that is still individually produced. See these artisans
at work . . .
Summer Fun on the Cote d'Azur:
Nice
See
some of the sights in this beautiful city, located in the heart of
the French Riviera
Florence: Visit the Cradle of the Renaissance:
Our
first stop of the summer after leaving Singapore was the Italian city of
Florence, home to many of the world's art treasures and food par excellence. On
our first trip to this city we rented an apartment in Oltrarno, the city's old
quarter, home to craftsman and artists of every variety. From this base, we
spent a week visiting the sights and sampling the food. While nothing can
replace being there in person, perhaps our Virtual Florence will provide you
with a taste of life in this magnificent city.
Click here or on the picture of the Duomo to start your tour. . .
In the summer of 2004 we began our vacation by traveling to
again to Italy, this time spending a week shaking off jet lag in the magical
city of Venice. Armed with far too few Euros, but a trusty tripod and an
adequate supply of memory cards, we sampled with cultural and culinary delights
of this city of canals. So quit fretting about the plummeting dollar and take a
virtual tour of Venice. We offer two versions: a tour of the cultural highlights
(featuring the major works of art from the major museums and cathedrals) and an
interactive map, filled with panoramas of this fabled city. Cheaper (by far)
than a gondola ride, your tour awaits you
. . .
Mallorca, in the Islas de Baleares
The
island of Mallorca is not all tourists and beaches. It possesses a rugged
character that few experience. Join us on a tour
of the island's interior. . . .
Visit Palma de Mallorca
Palma
de Mallorca is a scenic port town with a distinct charm. From its beautiful
harbor to its castles, cathedrals and forts, Palma's old city is one of
the gems of the Mediterranean. See for yourself .
. .
Turkey:
Istanbul: At the Crossroads of
Europe and Asia
Istanbul
straddles the Bosporus, the link between the Asian Near East and Europe.
Nothing symbolizes that duality more than the Hagia Sofia, the grand Christian
Cathedral later transformed into a mosque during that period when the Asian
side of the Bosporus was in ascendancy. We visited this beautiful city
this spring as presenters at the Near East South Asia Conference of schools
(NESA). We enjoyed the conference, and had a wonderful time sampling the
sights of this ancient city. Click here to see
the sights of Istanbul. . .
Egypt:
Visit the Great Pyramids of Ghiza
We
finally got a chance to visit the Great Pyramids on our recent track trip
to Cairo. It was truly a spectacular sight! Visit our Pyramid page and
see pictures of Great Pyramides and the Sphinx at both day and night.
Come on in. . .
See the Interior of the Menkaure
Pyramid
When
we visited the Pyramids the smallest of the three pyramids, Menkaure was
open for visitors. We ambled down the extremely narrow and short passageways
to inspect the final resting place of Egyptian royalty. Come inside the
Menkaure Pyramid to learn why for the Pharoahs location must have surely
been more important than square feet. Click here
on on the image to visit the Menkaure pyramid.
Lebanon:
Tour Byblos, the Oldest City
in the World
Byblos
is reported to be the oldest city in the world in continuous existence.
Located on the Mediterranean about 30 minutes north of Beirut, it boasts
a sea side Crusader's Castle, plus wonderfully preserved remnants of the
Phoenician, Egyptian, Alexandrian and Roman civilization who made their
mark on this port city. Come along for a tour of this town famous also
as a center of letters. Byblos, from whence we get the word Bible, is an
Arabic term for papyrus, and for centuries this city prospered as a seat
of government and learning. Our tour starts
at the castle. . .
See Sidon
See
the sights from this ancient port in southern Lebanon. An ancient Phoenician
port and a Crusader stronghold, Sidon has much to offer the traveler, from
a magnificent harbor to ancient souks. Come and experience
the charm of this port city with a rich past...........
Tour Tyre
Tyre,
the southernmost major city in Lebanon is a charming port city, replete
with lovely old souks, a fishing port, and a wealth of Archeological finds.
Double-click
here, or on the harbor picture
Fall Break Visit to the Chouf
Mountains
During
our October fall break we set out to visit some of the sights in the Chouf
Mountains, southeast of Beirut. See highlights of our visit to the Cedars
of the Chouf, the Beiteddine Palace and a trip to the Kefraya winery in
the Bekka Valley. Click here or on the picture to
start the tour. . .
Immerse Yourself in VIRTUAL
BAALBECK
On our last break we visited the most spectacular set of Roman ruins in
the Middle East, the temple complex of Baalbeck in the beautiful Bekka
valley. We now bring it to you in the form of VIRTUAL
BAALBECK, the only virtual reality tour of this spectacular
site on the world wide web. Tour each of the temples via interlocking panoramas,
as well as the attractions of the surrounding area. Months in the making,
VIRTUAL
BAALBECK is but a click away. . .
Amble Through Virtual Anjaar
Just a short distance away from Baalbeck in the Bekka Valley are the ruins
of the ancient Omayaad city of Anjaar, in its heydey a major city on the
trade routes going south to Palestine or east toward Damascus. VIRTUAL
ANJAAR takes you through a tour of the major features of this
once bustling city. The next tour is about
to depart. . .
Syria:
Visit the "Old City" of Damascus
Come
take a quick tour of the Old City of Damascus
and seek the souks (markets), the famous Omayyad Mosque, and a few architectural
delights of this ancient city.
The
first stop on our winter holiday in Syria was at the grandaddy of the Crusader
Castles, the Krak de Chevaliers, a mountain fortress we visited enroute
to a Christmas celebration in Aleppo, Syria.
Click
here to visit the mountain stronghold. . .
Our second stop on winter holiday was in the Syrian city of Aleppo, shown
here. We stayed at an old merchant serai in the Armenian quarter which
had been converted into a charming hotel. We saw the sights of Aleppo,
including the souk, the imposing citadel, and some amazing restaurants
(in stark contrast to our culinary experiences in Damascus. Click
here or on the picture to see the sights of Aleppo. . .
