Faneuil Hall, where I was Sworn in as an American Citizen The United States at 250 and the World It Influences Kwan Kew Lai I came to America from Malaysia on an F-1 student visa. It took me 17 years to become a U.S. citizen. To be an American means to be promised life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as stated in the Declaration of Independence. I have made significant progress in becoming Americanized, but I still straddle two cultures— those of my homeland and

Taktsang Monastery, or Tiger’s Nest The Kingdom of Bhutan, or Druk Yul, Land of the Thunder Dragon,​is a democratic constitutional monarchy. It nestles in the Himalayas. I have always wanted to experience this mysterious kingdom and made plans to visit it last November,​ rearranging tours and flights,​which the unexpected Iran War thwarted. My flight through Abu Dhabi was canceled five days before my departure, so​ I scrambled to book another flight bypassing the Middle Eas

Al Afad Camp, Sudan In February, we survived Snowstorm Fern and a blizzard, both of which dumped close to 20 inches of snow in Boston. I used the snow blower​ to clear the long driveway and the sidewalks.​ I didn't use it last year because there was not much snow. ​ But the snowy scenes have been a real treat. Punxsutawney Phil seems to be right so far. Returning from my humanitarian volunteering in Sudan last year and in Jamaica this January, where the temperatures were in

Sunrise at Newcomb Hollow Beach, Wellfleet, Cape Cod Another year has galloped away in the blink of an eye. Wars, ravages of war, fragile ceasefires, refugees, and internally displaced people continue to plague the world. It is hard for us who are not directly affected by them to imagine what life is like for them. I often worry about children and youths who are growing up and their education is interrupted by these man-made disasters. This year, I have been unable to vol

Last weekend, the Belmont community planted a mini-forest on the high school grounds, using the Miyawaki method. Akira Miyawaki was a botanist who developed this method in the 1970s. The primeval forests, which feature a diverse range of species growing around Japanese shrines and temples and have been left to grow for centuries, inspired him to create a self-sufficient, multi-layered forest ecosystem— a mini-forest- by planting native trees and shrubs densely in degraded a

Peyto Lake I went camping in the Canadian Rockies during the second week of August. Andriann was our guide for a group of seven; at...

Iceland has been on my list of countries to visit. I gifted my son and his wife a honeymoon in Iceland, but somehow, I never got to it...

The Royal Bengal Tiger Valmik Thager, the "Tiger Man", conservationist, died yesterday. India is home to two-thirds of the world's...

Gupta Ghat I took the morning train from Sawai Madhopur Station to New Delhi and then flew to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh. At the Gupta...

In February and March, I spent 25 days traveling in northern India, visiting several cities, starting in New Delhi. I was in India for...

Aurora Borealis in Fairbanks, Alaska There are so many wars in this world and it is disheartening that we as human beings are still not...

The autumnal equinox marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. During the pandemic, our lives were filled with uncertainties...

In March, I was in Japan doing a 13-day tour starting in Tokyo down to Matsuyama and back up to Tokyo passing Kyoto twice, Hanami was not...

I just returned from Jordan volunteering with the Syrian refugees under @IMANA. The days were long but rewarding. All in all, we saw...

2023 is fast coming to an end. It is always sad and nostalgic to say goodbye to an old year, feeling that time has slipped by....

On the last day of the Belmont Public Library, I felt nostalgic about our little old library. It has served us well, at least for my...

Map showing the route taken by the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry In July, I flew to Dutch Harbor or Unalaska of the Aleutian Islands where...

At the Everest Base Camp On April 27, 2023, I trekked to Everest Base Camp, after 8 days of trekking, from Lukla where all trekkers to...

The COVID pandemic still lingers and refuses to leave us in peace. Travel restrictions are waxing and waning, but life goes on. This...

Have you ever heard of the Mount Marathon Race in Seward, Alaska? I had not until early this year when I was planning my trip to Seward....