G. D. Vajra Vineyard, Piedmont, Italy

Sometimes it is better to have dumb luck than to be good. We had been studying Italian for about three months prior to our recent trip, and while the studying was rough going, we happily discovered when we got to Italy that we could communicate far better than we anticipated. But it turns out not quite as well as we thought. Our sommelier in Alba recommended we taste wine here, and we sent them an email and they invited us. We showed up at the day we thought we were to arrive, and were surprised by all the fan fare. So many other people were coming at the same time on the same day! We checked in at the desk and while the woman struggled with our names, she quickly waved us toward the glasses and we were in! Well, it turns out we crashed an industry event--at some point it might have dawned on us that we were the only non-Italians in the room, but it didn't happen until we had tried quite a few wines, palette cleansed with bread and Dolce Gorgonzola from an enormous wheel and taken in the spectacular views that we did not belong there. How did we tumble to this? Because it was very clear that they were not set up to sell us wine that day. But they did, and they did it all graciously. We sent an apology email confessing our mistake and they couldn't have been lovelier about it. This is a wonderful wine made by customer friendly people.

Enoteca Regionale del Barolo, Italy

I loved this place--I particularly love the ability to try a number of different barolos before buying, and while only manned by one person, Adriano, he was knowledgable and helpful, so we got our feet on the ground about barolos. Housed in the Castle of Barolo, the “Enoteca Regionale del Barolo” was established in 1982 by a specific regional law. It is the prestigious showcase of wine production in the eleven municipalities that make up the area of origin of the “king of wines”: Barolo, Castiglione Falletto Cherasco, Diano d’Alba, Grinzane Cavour, La Morra, Monforte d’Alba, Novello, Roddi, Serralunga d’Alba, Verduno. It currently represents 195 producers, whose wines are allowed only after an examination of a special wine tasting committee, operating strictly on anonymous samples to make an objective judgment. We were able to buy from several different wine makes, and ship from here. All in all a fun stop that I would recommend. The town of Barolo is quite charming as well (but I am glad that we stayed in Alba).

Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India

The area has astounding temples, this one being the least well preserved, but still quite spectacular--it pales in comparison to the others in the area, and while we saw it last, I recommend starting here. Along the shores of one of the largest bays in the world, the Bay of Bengal, stands a temple complex that draws inspiration from the sea and its naturally occurring rock formations. The majestic Shore Temple (known locally as Alaivay-k-kovil) sits beside the sea in the small town of Mamallapuram in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. This complex of three separate shrines was constructed under the patronage of the Pallava king Nrasimhavarman II Rajasimha, who ascended the throne in 700 C.E. and ruled for about twenty years. As an architectural form, the Shore Temple is of immense importance, situated on the culmination of two architectural phases of Pallava architecture: it demonstrates progression from rock cut structures to free standing structural temples, and displays all the elements of mature Dravidian architecture. It signifies religious harmony with sacred spaces dedicated to both Shiva and Vishnu, and was also an important symbol of Pallava political and economic strength. According to legend, sailors and merchants at sea could spot the shikharas of the temple from a distance and use those majestic towers to mark their arrival to the prosperous port city of Mahabalipuram. In this way, not only was the temple a home for the gods Shiva and Vishnu, but also a feature of the landscape, and an icon of the dominion of the great Pallava kings.

Trimurti Cave Temple, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Like other monuments in Mahabalipuram, the Trimurti Cave Temple is a rock-cut structure, meaning it was created by carving directly into a large granite boulder. It showcases the artistic and architectural skills of the Pallava dynasty that ruled the region during the 7th to 9th centuries. The temple’s carvings are known for their intricate detail and the skillful rendering of various deities and mythological stories. Visitors can appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship that went into creating this rock-cut marvel.

The central shrine is devoted to Shiva, flanked by Brahma on the left and Vishnu on the right. Shiva Shrine: The central shrine, dedicated to Shiva, is the most prominent, reflecting his role as the destroyer and regenerator of the universe. The figure of Shiva is depicted in a majestic form, symbolizing his power and divinity. Brahma Shrine: The left shrine features Brahma, the creator, depicted with four faces symbolizing his all-seeing nature. The carvings around this shrine reflect the creative energy of the universe. Vishnu Shrine: On the right, Vishnu, the preserver, is depicted reclining on the serpent Ananta, symbolizing the preservation of the universe. The surrounding carvings depict scenes from Vishnu’s various incarnations. The cave temple’s interior is adorned with intricate carvings and pillars, showcasing the Pallava artisans’ mastery in rock-cut architecture. The sculptures are not just religious symbols but also works of art that have stood the test of time.

Arjuna's Penance, Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India

This magnificent relief, carved in the mid-seventh century, measures approximately 30m (100ft) long by 15m (45ft) high. Its huge size and scale is difficult to imagine just from photographs; a person standing on the ground in front of it could barely touch the elephants' feet. The subject is either Arjuna's Penance or the Descent of the Ganges, or possibly both. In additive cultures like India's, logical alternatives are often conceptualized as "both-and" rather than "either-or." Arjuna's Penance is a story from the Mahabharata of how Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, performed severe austerities in order to obtain Shiva's weapon. The idea, which pervades Hindu philosophy, is that one could obtain, by self-mortification, enough power even to overcome the gods. In order to protect themselves, the gods would grant the petition of any ascetic who threatened their supremacy in this way - a kind of spiritual blackmail, or "give to get." (This meaning of the word "penance," by the way, is specific to Hinduism. Unlike the Catholic rite of penance, it is performed to gain power, not to expiate sin.)

The Ganges story is of the same kind, in which the sage Bhagiratha performs austerities in order to bring the Ganges down to earth. Shiva had to consent to break her fall in his hair, because otherwise its force would be too great for the earth to contain. The symbolism of the relief supports both stories. Furthermore, both stories were interpreted in a manner flattering to the Pallavas; the heroic Arjuna as a symbol of the rulers, and the Ganges as a symbol of their purifying power.

The Five Rathas. Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, India

Mahabalipuram, 50km south of Chennai, was the major seaport of the ancient Pallava kingdom based at Kanchipuram. We spent a morning exploring the temples, caves and rock carvings around it. The area was an important port town during India’s early history and developed as a key center for artistic activity under the patronage of the Pallava rulers. Nrasimhavarman I, who took the epithet Mamalla (meaning “great warrior”), ruled for about 38 years beginning in 630 C.E. and sponsored a large number of rock-cut monuments at Mamallapuram, including cave shrines, monolithic temples, and large sculptures carved out of boulders. While the Pallava kings primarily worshipped the god Shiva, they also supported the creation of temples dedicated to other Hindu gods and goddesses and to other religious traditions such as . The Pallava rulers were particularly inspired by the growing personal devotional movement known as bhakti, in which worshippers approach the divine as a cherished child or loved one.

The Five Rathas are each carved from one stone. Each of these fine 7th-century temples was dedicated to a Hindu god and is now named after one or more of the Pandavas, the five hero-brothers of the epic Mahabharata, or their common wife, Draupadi. The rathas were hidden in the sand until excavated by the British 200 years ago. Ratha is Sanskrit for 'chariot', and may refer to the temples' form or to their function as vehicles for the gods. It's thought that they didn't originally serve as places of worship, but as architectural models.

Saint-Émillion, Bordeaux, France

St. Emilion is a medieval era town in terms of architecture, but has been continually inhabited since about 35,000 BCE. The Romans planted vineyards in what was to become Saint-Émilion as early as the 2nd century. In the 4th century, the Latin poet Ausonius lauded the fruit of the bountiful vine. The Grand Cru appellation was added in 1954, and the whole town and wine growing region was given a UNESCO World Heritage site status in 1999.

It is a beautiful town built into a hill with spectacular views, and with 800 vinyards in the surrounding area (67% of land is planted in grape vines). The town is perfect for aging wine at the perfect temperature--there are loads of underground tunnels under the town. It is easy to taste a lot of great to magnificent wine, but wow, we were by no means the first people to discover this jewel, and the tourists outnumber the inhabitants on the streets 20:1. Plan accordingly!

Ancestral Temples, Hoi An, Vietnam

Ancestral Temples in Hoi An. We were here on the eve of Hung King Commenoration Day, a holiday dedicated to remembering. Since Confucianism was introduced to Vietnam during the Chinese domination, filial piety, the most fundamental of Confucian values, is very influential and important to Vietnamese families. Accordingly, children are obliged to respect their parents in life and to remember them after they die. The practice of ancestor worship is thus an expression of filial piety toward deceased parents, relatives and ancestors.

These incense coils (which pack flat if you would like to bring one home to burn in your own temple, or you can purchase one here, and they will burn for you) are very cool! Ancestral Temples in Hoi An. We were here on the eve of Hung King Commenoration Day, a holiday dedicated to remembering. Since Confucianism was introduced to Vietnam during the Chinese domination, filial piety, the most fundamental of Confucian values, is very influential and important to Vietnamese families. Accordingly, children are obliged to respect their parents in life and to remember them after they die. The practice of ancestor worship is thus an expression of filial piety toward deceased parents, relatives and ancestors.

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An Ancient town is located in Viet Nam’s central Quang Nam Province, on the north bank near the mouth of the Thu Bon River that at one point was the capital of ancient Vietnam. The town reflects a fusion of indigenous and foreign cultures (principally Chinese and Japanese with later European influences) that combined to produce this unique survival. This is considered a "must see" city in central Vietnam, and it is charming, to be sure--the City of Lanterns. We didn't avail ourselves of this, but we hear a woman talking at some length about taking a class in lantern making. This was a stop where we did typical tourist things, like traditional performances and a canal boat ride in a round woven boat. We stayed at a resort, sat by the pool and ate at restaurants where we could have ice and lettuce.

The town comprises a well-preserved complex of 1,107 timber frame buildings, with brick or wooden walls, which include architectural monuments, commercial and domestic vernacular structures, notably an open market and a ferry quay, and religious buildings such as pagodas and family cult houses. The houses are tiled and the wooden components are carved with traditional motifs. We liked it here, but I think if I were to do it over again, I would spend more time in Northern Vietnam. As Americans we are more familiar with the south, but culturally and artistically, the North is where it is at.

My Son, Quảng Nam, Vietnam

Between the 4th and 13th centuries a unique culture which owed its spiritual origins to Indian Hinduism developed on the coast of contemporary Viet Nam. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower-temples located in a dramatic site that was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence.

The property is located in the mountainous border Duy Xuyen District of Quang Nam Province, in central Viet Nam. It is situated within an elevated geological basin surrounded by a ring of mountains, which provides the watershed for the sacred Thu Bon river. The source of the Thu Bon river is here and it flows past the monuments, out of the basin, and through the historic heartland of the Champa Kingdom, draining into the South China Sea at its mouth near the ancient port city of Hoi An. The location gives the sites its strategic significance as it is also easily defensible.

The tower temples were constructed over ten centuries of continuous development in what was the heart of the ancestral homeland of the ruling Dua Clan which unified the Cham clans and established the kingdom of Champapura (Sanskrit for City of the Cham people) in 192 CE. During the 4th to 13th centuries CE this unique culture, on the coast of contemporary Viet Nam, owed its spiritual origins to the Hinduism of the Indian sub-continent. Under this influence many temples were built to the Hindu divinities such as Krishna and Vishnu, but above all Shiva. Although Mahayan Buddhist penetrated the Cham culture, probably from the 4thcentury CE, and became strongly established in the north of the kingdom, Shivite Hinduism remained the established state religion.

Imperial Citadel, Hue, Vietnam

We started the (very hot) day at the Hue Historic Citadel—it is a walled fortress that served as the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last feudal dynasty in Vietnam, from 1802 to 1945. It is situated on the northern bank of the Perfume River. In the 19th century. Emperor Gia Long relocated the nation's capital from Thang Long (today’s Hanoi) to Hue. He built a palace complex in Hue that was modeled after Beijing's Forbidden City. Geomancers were consulted to determine the ideal location for the new capital. The construction of the Hue Historic Citadel started in 1803, and it took nearly 30 years to finish this massive complex.

The central structure is the Hue Citadel area which was the administrative centre of southern Viet Nam during the 17th and 18th centuries CE. Within the Hue Citadel were located not only administrative and military functions of the Empire, but also the Imperial Residence, the Hoang Thanh (Imperial City), the Tu Cam Thanh (Forbidden Purple City) and related royal palaces. Tran Binh Dai, an additional defensive work in the north-east corner of the Capital City, was designed to control movement on the river. Another fortress, Tran Hai Thanh, was constructed a little later to protect the capital against assault from the sea.

The structures of the Complex of Hue Monuments are carefully placed within the natural setting of the site and aligned cosmologically with the Five Cardinal Points (centre, west, east, north, south), the Five Elements (earth, metal, wood, water, fire), and the Five Colours (yellow, white, blue, black, red).

Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

We went on an overnight cruise on Ha Long Bay, part of the Bay of Tonkin where the US provoked an attack by the VietcCong to justify our Americanization of the Vietnam war. This place is magical with 7000 mostly tiny islands the most prominent visual features. April is a foggy month in the Cat Ba Archipelago, which means less of the startling turquoise water and more shadowy islet photos.

UNESCO has recognized Ha Long Bay and the Cat Ba Archipelago of over 1,000 islands and islets as one of the world’s most important areas of fengcong (clusters of conical peaks) and fenglin (isolated tower features) karst. Additionally, the exceptionally beautiful landscape is also a vibrant source of food and income for the people who live there.

Is an overnight stay required? It depends—I could look at this ever changing scenery for days on end and see different things but would you get the sense of it from a 3 hour cruise? Yes, you would. Just a spectacularly gorgeous spot.

Temple of Literature, Hanoi, Vietnam

Built by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong during the Ly dynasty, the Temple of Literature (Văn Miếu in Vietnamese) was erected in honour of the philosopher Confucius and his disciples in 1070. In 1076, it became home to Hanoi’s first university, Quốc Tử Giám. The site is one of the oldest in Hanoi and a national symbol of Vietnamese education and architecture. Today, the temple houses five court yards, records of Vietnamese scholars, and statues of turtles which are said to bring students good luck in their exams.

A symbol of Hanoi, a familiar image featured on the back of the 100,000 Vietnam dong banknote is Khue Van Cac, the Pavilion of Constellation). This unique architectural work was built in 1805 with four white-washed stone stilts. Khue is the brightest star in the sky and the whole constellation is shaped like the character of “Literature” in Chinese. It implied the wish for prosperous and developed education. Inside the courtyard, a thousand-year-old bronze bell hangs from the ceiling and is only rung on auspicious occasions.