Osaka, Japan and the cult of the octopus dumpling.

  Compared to the glittery metropolis of Tokyo or the ancient sublimity of Kyoto, it’s easy to forget the more grounded and working class city of Osaka. But that would be a mistake. The second largest metropolitan area in Japan…

Seeking Zen. Exploring the Buddhist temples of Kyoto, Japan.

  Kyoto is the religious and cultural center of Japan. It has over 2000 active temples, 1600 Buddhist and 400 Shinto. Spared most of the destruction of World War II, it remains one of the best examples of prewar city…

Getting a Sak Yant tattoo: the sacred art of Thai Buddhist magic tattooing.

Through all of my adventures and travels I have never been able to commit to a tattoo. I have hundreds of ideas for tattoos and saved images tucked away in computer folders. But if I’m going to carry this around…