Tag: Architecture

Travel Words, Turkey

Ottoman City Walls of Istanbul

Istanbul’s City Walls I’m a sucker for ruins, climbing things, and particularly climbing on ruins. It only follows, then, that Istanbul’s City Walls were high on my list of priorities as soon as I caught sight of them. For the budget-conscious backpacker taking public transit into town from the airport, […]

Photo Blogs, Turkmenistan

Gypjak Mosque

For a man with the stature of Turkmenbashi, no normal tomb will do. It must be a grand marble mausoleum, built to house the whole family. It must be situated just next door to an even grander marble mosque, large enough to hold the whole extended family. And so the […]

China, Photo Blogs

Potala Palace

No photos allowed inside but, here, two exterior shots of Lhasa’s Potala Palace. The inside of beautiful and ornate and bejeweled, and brings to mind a lot of questions about the ideals of asceticism in practicality.

Japan, Photo Blogs

Himeji Castle

You know what’s almost as good as the 14th century World-Heritage castle at Himeiji? Ninjas! Unfortunately, airport security took my ninja stars when I tried to board my flight to Hong Kong with them.  What’s next, Japan, no samurai swords in public?!