York located on the confluence of the Ouse and Foss rivers in Yorkshire was founded by the Romans in 71AD who named it Eboracum.

The city experienced decline in the post-Roman era until the arrival of the Anglos in the 5th century.

The main focus of my visit was the York Minister and the Railway Museum.

Matsumoto Castle, built in the late 16th century by Lord Yorishige and was originally called Fukashi Castle. The oldest castle in Japan is has never had to be rebuilt.

It, along with Himeji and the earthquake damaged Kumamoto Castle, is a premier castle.

Roi Et is a small city in the Isaan region of Thailand.

A pleasant city, it boosts Thailand's largest standing Buddha.

Also of interest was the Roi Et National Museum with exhibits about Isaan life and artifacts from the Dvaravati and Lopburi periods.

The Danube Delta has an area of 4,160 sq km, of which 3445 sq km is in Romania, the remainder in Ukraine.

Home to more than 160 species of fish it also provides nesting for over 320 species of birds including the Dalmatian Pelican, the world's largest pelican.

Several boat trips can be taken into the delta from Sulina, a small town near the Black Sea.

Romania's fresco painted monasteries are in the Bucovina area, north-east Romania.

Painted in the period from the late 15th to the late 16th centuries, most were done between 1530-50 during the reign of Petru Rares.

Frescos were used to illustrate local history and bible stories to illiterate soldiers and peasants.

Nazareth, in the southern Galilee region of Israel is where it is believed the Virgin Mary received the Annunciation from Archangel Gabriel.

Two churches have been built, one Catholic, one Greeek Orthodox, on the exact spot where the Annuciation occurred. They agree within six hundred metres.

Gyeongbokgung, established in 1392 was the principal palace for the Joseon Dynasty(1392-1910).

Destroyed by the Japanese in 1592 it remained in ruins until restored in 1867.

The palace was considerably damaged during the Japanese occupation(1910-1945).

Another project to restore the palace was launched in 1990.

Haedong Yong-gunsa is located by the sea. This is unusual as most Korean temples are located in the mountains.

Originally built in 1376, during the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), it was severely damaged by fire during the Japanese invasions (1592-98) and then neglected for centuries.

Restoration commenced in the 1930s. The temple was given its current name, Haedong Yong- gungsa, in 1974.

Kotor located in Kotor Bay, Montenegro, has a population of 16000 people.

Main area of visitor interest, the old town, is surrounded by a 5 kilometre, 20 metre high and 10 metre wide wall which snakes up St John's Hill.

Within its confines are many Venetian buildings and Orthodox churches.

The Chapel of Saint Petka, near a well of holy water, was named after an 11th century asetic female Serbian saint.

The interior moasics were installed from 1980 to 1983.

Small bottles of holy water can be purchased from within the church. The bias relief on the bottles make a nice souvenir.

Mostar in Bosnia & Herze- govina is known for Ottoman architecture and its arched bridge.

The arched bridge, over the Neretva River, was destroyed during the Bosnian war and rebuilt again. It is from this bridge young men dive to show their courage.

Tourists can also dive after appropriate training.

Gdansk, near the mouth of the Vistula River, is Poland's main port with an old town of architectual and historical interest.

Bounded by the Green Gate, which leads to the river, and the Golden Gate, Dlugi Targ, once the main city market, is now the most popular part of the historical old town.

Amethyst, fossilized tree sap, is an important Gdansk industry.

Poznań is a city of a little over half a milion on the Warta River in west Poland.

Wat Phumin in Nan, Thailand, is of unsual design. The Wat's main building serves as a combined viharn /ubosot. It has four doors facing in cardinal directions.

Entering though any door will present you to a seated Buddha in the Earth Witness position.

The walls are decorated with murals, many which depict life in 19th century Nan.

The Phimai Festival is held in the Isaan town of Phimai every November.

There are a number of daytime activities including the provision of local cuisine, the Korat cat competition, dragon boat races.

The highlight of the festival is the laser light, dance and singing performance presented at Brahmathat Court, Prasat Hin Phimai.

The story depicted is set in the time of Khmer King, Jayavarman VII (1181-1220)

Sukothai Historical Park is the ruins of the first Thai capital. Sukothai, capital from 1238 to 1378.

Originally a provincial town in the Khmer Empire it gained its independence in 1238.

The kingdom remained small until its expansion under King Ramkhamhaeng(1279-1298).

He is also credited with devising the Thai alphabet and the establishment Theravada Buddhism as the state religion.

Clock tower, in the town of Kaga, near the Kiku no Yu Public Bath. Bath is fed by the hot spring waters of the Yamanaka Onsen.

Though the hot spring was said to have been discovered more than 1300 years ago, the Yamanaka Onsen's public bath is named Kiku no Yu, after a haiku by Japanese poet Matsuo Basho(1644-1694). In his opinion onsens here where amongst the best in Japan.

Takayama is noted its for preserved Edo Period buildings, many in the vicinity of Sannomachi Street.

During the Edo Period (1600-1868) Takayama gained a reputation as a source of high quality timber and skilled carpenters. Because of this it came under the direct control of the Tokagawa shogunate.

While in Takayama you well see dolls with human shapes and no faces, sarabobo dolls.

Lakes Masho and Kusshiro, caldera lakes in eastern Hokkaido can be visited on a day train trip from Abashiro or Kushiro.

At Awayu-onsen Station a two day bus pass can be purchased for 1500 yen.

The bus operates on a hop-on hop-off system travelling a circuit from the caldera of Lake Mashu to Bihiro Pass, overlooking Lake Kusshiro.

Abashiri Prison Museum in Abashiri, Hokkaido, is an open air museum based on the old Abashiri Prison.

Opening its doors in 1985 the museum, which has over a dozen mannequin populated buildings, attempts to give some insight into the life of inmates.

It can be reached by a bus from Abashiri. However, make sure you do not get off at Abashiri Prison on the same bus route.

Lake Towado, with a periphery of 46 kilometres with an depth of 71 metres, is a caldera lake in northern Honshu, Japan.

An active volcano, it last erupted in 915 CE. Today the caldera is forested and populated with small towns and shrines.

Along the Oisase River from Nenikuchi to Yakiyama is a 14 kilometre wilderness trail. Along the river from Nenikuchi to Iishi Ge Do are numerous waterfalls and minirapids.

Mi-taki is a Shingon temple in the forested hills near Hiro -shima, Japan.

At the entrance to the temple grounds you will be greeted by red-capped jizos.

Just inside the ground is a two storied pagoda called Tahōtō. Originally on the grounds of the Hirohachiman Shrine, in 1951 it was moved to Hiroshima to console souls of victims who died in the atomic bombing.

Gloucester, on the Severn River near the Welsh border was once a major port. Its decline was caused by larger ships and better road transport.

Gloucester Cathedral, originally an abbey was commenced in 1082. It has many large stained glass windows and tombs, including the highly ornate tomb of King Edward II.

Another area of interest is the dock area with its partially restored canals and Victorian warehouses.

This now quiet wooded gorge on the Severn River was one of the ignition points of the Industrial Revolution.

It started in 1709 when Abraham Darby succeeded in using coke to produce iron. Ironbridge is named after the world's first major ironbridge opening in 1781.

Nearby is Victoria Town, an open air museum which attempts to recreate a Shropshire town in the late Victorian period.

Whitby is is a fishing port located on the north-east coast of England which supposely has the world's best fish 'n' chips shops.

Over looking Whitby is the ruined Whitby Abbey. Its atmosphere provided the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Another item of interest to me was Caedmon’s Cross, a late Victorian-style Celtic cross, set up in 1898 to commenorate the 7th century Anglo-Saxon poet, Caedmon.

A day trip from Dublin to Glendalough and Kilkenny.

Glendalough a monastic city, establish in the 6th century, flourished until 1215 when the diocese of Glendalough and Dublin were combined. In 1398 it was destroyed by the English.

The name Kilkenny comes from Irish, Cill Chainnigh, meaning Church of Cainnech. During my brief stay I visited Kilkenny Castle, St Canice Cathedral and St Marys Cathedral.

The 180 kilometer long Ring of Kerry, in the southwest of Ireland, circling the Iveragh Peninsula, is a convenient length for a day trip.

The Dingle Peninsula and the Ring of Kerry can be visited on day trips originating in Kilarney, County Kerry.

Wieliczka Salt Mine, near Kracow, Poland, has many miner carved statues and friezes.

Salt was deposited 15 million years ago. The salt is grey with granite texture. The mine has its own micro-climate, a constant temperature between 14-16C.

Commencing in the 13th century mining continued until 1996.

There are three routes, the tourist, (2 kilometres long) the miners and the pilgrims.

Kutna Hora is home to Sedlac Ossuary(Bone Church), and the Church of St Barbara.

When the cemetary of Selac Church contaning Golgotha soil was reduced in the 15th century excess bones were moved to the ossuary. Later they were used to create the designs which made this church famous.

The Church of St Barbara is named after the patron saint of mining. Started in 1388 it took over 400 years to complete. Its mixed architectural styles reflect this long building period.

Lisbon, capital of Portugal, is a city influenced by many cultures over the centuries

It was from here that Vasco de Gama left on the sea voyage establishing a sea-link between Portugal and India.

The beautiful Jeronimos Monastery was built to commemorate his return from India. Starting in 1501 it was not completed until the 17th century.

Cordoba, site of an UNESCO heritage area which includes the Mezquita, Roman Bridge, Gate and the Alcarzar de los Reyes.

High speed trains make it a practical day trip from Seville.

I came to see the Mezquita, originally a Mosque built over two hundred years from 784CE.

After the Christian re-conquest in 1236 the central area was converted into a church. The current Rennaisance church dates from the 16th century.

Angkor was capital of the Khmer Empire from 801 to 1432. During that period many temples, Hindu and Buddhist were built.

This posting is a summary of two trips I have taken to Angkor visiting Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Jayavarmans VII's monastic temples and others.

The figures in the image are apsaras. Apsaras are celestial beings, who taking the form of young women are sent to Earth by Indra to seduce ascetics who threaten his power.

Danang is located about mid -way along the coast of Vietnam. Often used as a base to explore Hue and Hoi An it does have its own attractions.

These include: its beach; the river based night life ; the Bai But Linh Ung Pagoda on the Son Tra Peninsula with its 67 metre high statue of Lady Buddha.

On the southern end of the city is the Marble Mountains. Though having some marble, it is a karst region with several Buddhist temples.

Near Sapa, Vietnam, are a number of hilltribes. Hmong are the most numerous. Other tribes include the Red Dao and Tay.

There are several treks visitors can take into the surrounding countryside to intereact with the hilltribes.

Some are over several days allowing trekkers stay in hilltribe villages. Others, like the one in which I participated, are one day treks.

On the three day Halong Bay trip from Hanoi it is the second day which is the most active. Much of the first and third days are spend travelling from and to Hanoi and checking in and out.

During the second days caves were visited followed by a strenuous trek to the Cat Ba Island lookout above the karst and then a trip to Monkey Island.

The day's highlight for me was the floating fishing villages we passed on the way to and from Monkey Island.

"A Temple of Literature!?" I didn’t know what to expect. A library; a massive book store; an achive of ancient manuscripts; I didn’t find any of these.

Hanoi's Temple of Literature, originally constructed in 1070 to honour Confucist, became, in 1076, Vietnam's first university.

The complex is still used for graduation ceremonies. Graduating students like to have photographs taken of themselves in graduation or traditional Vietnamese dress.

A countryside of flat paddy fields, scubby vegetation, the Issan's attractions are not immediately obvious.

Built, between 1559-1560, Wat Xieng Thong, is the oldest and arguably the most beautiful Wat in Luang Prabang.

The Sim is extensively gold stenciled on both red and black backgrounds. At its back is a moasic depicting the tree of life.

A separate building, the Chapel of the Reclining Buddha, houses a bronze reclining Buddha which was crafted in 1569 on the orders of King Sai Setthathirat.

Located in a mountainous region near the center of the island, Sun Moon Lake, part natural, part artificial, is Taiwan's largest lake.

Several towns and temples are on its shores. These include Yuchi town and the Wenwu Temple temple.

Also of interest is the Formosa Aboriginal Cultural Village. Taiwan's largest open air museum it represents nine aboriginal tribes using a mixture of real people and mannequins.

Jeju Island lies south of the Korean peninsula. It is a volcanic island whose main cone is Halla Mountain.

Jeju Stone Park was set up to celebrate Jeju's stone culture. To enter, is to enter a relm that is partly history, partly myth.

The Jeju 4:3 Peace Park was as a memorial to those who were injured or lost their lives during an uprising which broke out on March 3rd 1948 on the island.

Gyeongju, noted for its hundreds of burial mounds, was the capital of the Silla dynasty (54BC-935AD).

Many artifacts such as thin gold crowns, jewels, silver ornaments, bronze and glass beads have been unearthed from the mounds and are displayed in the Gyeongju National Musuem.

On Gyeoongju's periphery is the Silla Science Museum and the Bulguksa Temple.

Seoraksan National Park is a mountanous reserve 163.2 sq kms in area with many peaks over 1200 metres. It can be reached by local bus from Sokcho.

The park is popular for hiking, particularly in Autumn, and skiing in winter.

In the park is the Tongil Daebul and the Shinhenugsa Temple. A Jogye Order temple it is the world's oldest Zen temple.

Sokcho-si in Gangwon province on the north east coast of South Korea is a base for visiting the Seoraksan National Park.

Sokcho is a fishing town so has many sea food restaurants.

Near the blue arched Seorak Bridge, is Abai Village, home for north Korean refugees.

The city has many museums. I visited was the Seokbong Ceramic Museum, which houses or did house the world's largest ceremic plate.