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Discovering Balboa Park: San Diego’s Crown Jewel - 5th Sep 2010

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Balboa Park, an iconic cultural park in San Diego, is a captivating destination that seamlessly blends rich natural beauty with stunning Spanish-style architecture. The park is filled with a variety of highlights. The Botanical Building, constructed with one of the world’s largest wooden lath structures, stands as a landmark where visitors can admire vibrant tropical and rare plants. Right in front of it lies the Lily Pond, a peaceful spot where visitors can enjoy gracefully blooming water lilies and aquatic plants, along with the scenic reflections of the sky and the beautiful building on the water's surface. Furthermore, the California Tower, adorned with intricate Baroque-style carvings, boasts an undeniable presence that can be recognized from almost anywhere in the park.  The classic arched arcades leading toward Plaza de Panama offer a pleasant, shaded walkway while creating a truly picturesque view. Visitors can also stroll through the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden,...

A Tale of Two Statues: The Humorous Heart of Belgium - 18th Aug 2024

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In Brussels, the capital of Belgium, there are two famous statues with a humorous "urination" motif. The first is "Manneken Pis" (affectionately known as Julian), created in the 17th century. He is a world-famous icon with a legend of a boy who once saved the city from a fire. Although he is quite small, standing at only about 61 cm tall, he boasts a massive wardrobe of over 1,000 costumes gifted from all over the world, delighting visitors with his frequent outfit changes during events. On the other hand, "Jeanneke Pis" (the peeing girl), created in 1985, is located tucked away in a narrow alley about a 10-minute walk from Manneken Pis. While she was established for a serious cause—to raise funds for medical research—her squatting posture is depicted so realistically that it often leaves visitors even more surprised than Manneken Pis. Today, she sits quietly behind iron bars installed to prevent vandalism. One is a historic, heroic boy, and the other i...

Escaping to Standen: Beautiful Gardens and Timeless English Country Living - 18th Aug 2023

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Standen House and Garden, located in East Grinstead, West Sussex, is a late 19th-century country house managed by the National Trust. It was built between 1892 and 1894 as a summer retreat for the wealthy Beale family. Designed by Philip Webb—an architect and close friend of William Morris—the house is characterized by its warm, welcoming exterior crafted from local sandstone and brick. The interior is beautifully adorned with wallpapers and textiles by Morris & Co., alongside furniture designed by Webb himself. Notably, Morris’s iconic "Trellis" wallpaper is preserved in exceptionally fine condition, making this a highly recommended destination for any admirer of his work. The lovely gardens, spreading across the hillside, feature a terrace and a rose garden boasting a wealth of seasonal blossoms, offering panoramic views of the tranquil Sussex countryside. It remains a highly popular destination where visitors can truly immerse themselves in Morris's timeless design...