Sitting right in the heart of the old city, close to the Alcaicería (old silk market) and right next to the Royal Chapel, (where the Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella are buried) stands the Catedral de Granada. When the Catholic Monarchs finally completed their grand campaign known as the Reconquista, they specifically chose Granada to be their final resting place .   Together, the cathedral and chapel serve as a national monument of Spanish identity, tying monarchy, religion, and architecture into one grand narrative. The cathedral has long been seen as a counterpoint to the Alhambra, representing the grandeur of Christian legacy just as the Alhambra  represents the Islamic Golden Age. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.

In this series of the travelogue, I want to map out the Holy Land according to their entry in Christian scripture and tradition specific to the life of Jesus.  For today's entry, let's explore the different scenes relevant to the foundation of Christ's birth. The Annunciation is the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive and bear Jesus, the Son of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit. This event, described in the Gospel of Luke, marks the Incarnation, when God became human flesh as well as commemorates Mary's faithful acceptance of God's will. There are two different (but within the same area) locations believed by the faithful (Orthodox and Catholics) where this holy event was supposed to have taken place. Annunciation Location 1: The Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth (above) A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic, pre-Gaza War, and pre-Iran War tale from the Middle East. 

The Intrepid Museum in New York City is one of the most fascinating and underrated experiences in a city full of memorable adventures. For one, the museum is located on the USS Intrepid, a friggin retired aircraft carrier permanently docked on the Hudson River at Pier 86 in Manhattan! Talk about awesome; if you are a fan of military history or just amazing killing machines in general, this is the place to be! A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.

My travels have certainly taken me to some of the world's most interesting places; and not just interesting historically, culturally, spiritually, nor those pertaining to amazing views, food, shopping, and partying.  Some of these places have been insanely crazy (in a fun way) and Haw Par Villa in Singapore definitely belongs in that category! In a nutshell, it's a theme park featuring a recreation of hell complete with demons and tortured souls; one that has scared generations of kids (the writer included when I first visited the place back in the 90s)! A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.

Of all the structures in Islamic Spain, none had a story as iconic as that of the Alhambra of Granada. It is a tale told within the context of the almost 800 year long struggle (known as the Reconquista) by the various Christian kingdoms of the Iberian peninsula (now Spain and Portugal) to reconquer territory from the Muslims. The Alhambra was the last great Muslim stronghold in Spain, standing until 1492, when the Catholic Monarchs (Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon) took Granada in the final act of the Reconquista. To visit the UNESCO World Heritage site is to visit two sections forming the single monumental complex: the Generalife and beside it, the Alhambra. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.

Back in 2012 and way before the current situation in the Holy Land, I was fortunate to have been able to visit not just numerous spots across Israel and Jordan, but also the West Bank in Palestine.  Going on a pilgrimage in itself, is a very rewarding experience; but to go alone was in a word.. transformative . For the first time in my young adult life, I was ultimately responsible for my health, safety, and well-being; to say that I grew up during this trip is an understatement. This journey also sparked a love for exploring places I had only read about but had not previously been; a love that has only grown this past decade. Indeed, traveling has become central to my psyche, and is a key reason for this travelogue's existence. Thirteen years later, I'm very happy to be revisiting this adventure. Arriving at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, a wide-eyed young me was ecstatic to be in the Middle East. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale. One...

No visit to NYC is complete without a trip to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), celebrated not just because of its fantastic and comprehensive collection but also for playing a starring role in the "Night at the Museum" film starring Ben Stiller and Robin Williams. And of all its attractions, the 94-foot-long blue whale model is the most iconic. Serving as the focal point of the massive Hall of Ocean Life, the whale is so popular that galas, dinners, even sleepovers are held under the massive sea creature. A note from the writer: this is a pre-pandemic tale.