Table of
Contents:
Clicking on the name of the country will take you to all of
the sites in that region, listed at the bottom of the page.
Clicking on the individual sites
will take you directly to that web page. We would suggest
visiting the country unless you only want to see a specific site
(e.g., Tokyo)
Brunei: Touring the Empire Hotel, Visiting the Sultan at the Istana
Cambodia: Temples of Siem Reap, VR Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom
Japan: mega-site containing Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto, Mt. Fuji, and more. Shinsoji Temple Tour
Malaysia: Tioman Island, Melaka, Langkawi, Batu Caves, Islamic Arts
Museum, Colmar
Tropicale/Tanjong Jara Resort, Islamic Arts
Museum
Sri Lanka: mega-site containing Colombo, Galle, Nuwara Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla, Sigirigya, Kandalama, and Kandy
Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket, Sam Roi Yot:
Thung Wetlands, Phraya Nakhon Temple
Cave, Guan Yin Shrine
Australia:
Western Australia: mega-site containing Perth/Freemantle, Margaret River, Yallingup, Dwellingup, Margaret River Wine Tour
Central and North America:
Europe:
England: In and Around London, including Westminster, Harrow School, Windsor, and Wimbledon
Middle East:
Lebanon: Byblos, Sidon, Tyre, Chouf Mountains, Virtual Baalbek, Virtual Anjar
] at
the bottom of the respective tours. Bandar Seri Begawan: Brunei's Capital:
During our Thanksgiving break of November 2003, we took
advantage of travel specials offered at the end of Hari Raya,
a major Muslim holiday, to visit the country of Brunei.
Located on an island that is also home to East Malaysia,
Brunei is an oil-rich nation whose Sultan is the world's
richest monarch. We stayed at the fabulous Empire Resort and
Country Club, and were lucky enough to see the Istana, the
Sultan's palace, opened to visitors for the three days
following Hari Raya. Tour
this fabulous hotel and meet the Sultan!
Visit Siem Reap and Tour the Ancient
Ruins:
This website is the result of two trips, 14 years apart. The first trip to Siem Reap resulted in a map-based virtual tour, an architectural survey of most of the temples in the area. In 2018 we returned with new technology which allowed us to create VR (virtual reality) based tours of two of the most important complexes, the vast Angkor Wat temple, and the temples enclosed within the old City walls of Angkor Thom. These tours provide a much more interactive look at the complexes, as they offer 360 degree viewing, as well as embedded maps, videos, and photos. They may also be viewed in headsets such as Google Cardboard. Click here on on the map to tour the temples of Siem Reap.
Bali: Explore the charms of this Tropical Hideaway:
Our extensive Bali web pages include visits to Ubud (including Ubud itself), as well as Murni's Warung and Villa Kunang-Kunang), Candidasa and the Water Garden Villas, as well as our fabulous anniversary stay at the Four Seasons Villas in beautiful Jimbaran Bay. Take a trip to paradise!
Bintan Island: A Short Getaway from Singapore:
The Banyan Tree Resort on Bintan Island is just
an hour's hop by high speed ferry. It terms of the pace of
life and enjoyment of the charms of the tropics, it is a
million miles away from Singapore. Come join us for a
tour of this fabulous resort. . .
India Adventure:
Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan
In February of 2004 Dale returned to Rajasthan,
this time with a group of 20 students from the Singapore
American School. This "India Adventure" lasted 10 days and
covered aspects of history, culture, nature, and
architecture in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. From the Taj
Mahal to the deserts of Pushkar, come visit the
delights of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. . .
See Some of the Highlights of Japan:
Last February Dale and another SAS staff member (also named Dale) took students on an 8 day tour of Japan. Visiting Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo and Hiroshima, the trip explored many facets of Japanese life, including the history and culture (past and present) as well as experiencing a taste of how the Japanese live. The trip included a stay at a traditional Japanese inn, a homestay, a tour of the high-tech world of electronics, visits to ancient shrines, and even a trip to Universal Studios. To take a virtual tour of this trip, click here or on the image of Mt. Fuji. . .
On our way to the U.S. in August of
2018 we had a layover at Narita Airport (near Tokyo). We
used this time to visit Shinshoji Temple and nearby
Naritasan Park, and created a 360 virtual tour of the
grounds. Come
visit one of Japan's oldest and most visited temples.
Luang Prabang is a
lovely city, full of things to see and do, all in a relaxed
atmosphere. Even traveling there as we did twice during the
winter holiday season, it was never crowded and the proximity of
most sites and activities make it the ideal town to explore at
your leisure. We have created three virtual tours which we hope
capture the Luang Prabang experience, a Mekong River Cruise, a
tour of Luang Prabang's old City, and a tour of the Wats of
Luang Prabang within the old city. Take a Virtual Tour of Luang
Prabang's "Old City"Tioman Island: A Jewel of the South Pacific (in the South China Sea
Tioman Island, off the
east coast of Malaysia, is a renowned diving site and a
favorite of golfers fleeing the high-priced greens fees in
Singapore. It is also a wonderful place to just hang out and
soak up the sun, as we found over Thanksgiving Break. Tioman
is the setting of Bali Hai in the musical South Pacific.
Come discover this little
slice of paradise, where monkeys frolic on the golf
course (no, the real ones, the animals!)
Melaka: Crossroads of the Ancient Mariners
Melaka is a port
city about 2 hours' drive from Kuala Lumpur. In the period
when the Indian Ocean was the dominant world trade network,
it was one of the most important ports in the world. The
history of Melaka is a microcosm of the history of Southeast
Asia, as traders from Africa, the Arab world, India and
China all left their mark. It also felt the impact of
colonialism under the Portuguese, Dutch, and English. Our
Melaka page covers these experiences in two virtual tours,
one of the colonial Majestic Hotel and the other a tour of
Melaka's historical district. Click here or on the
photo to discover Melaka's rich past.
Langkawi: Our
Trip to the Four Seasons Langkawi
This was the first leg in an
epic 2007 spring holiday, a trip to the Malaysian island of
Langkawi. We stayed at the Four Seasons Langkawi and sampled
all of the delights that it had to offer: food,
accomodations, and activitiles. Come visit this
island paradise that was our home for five blissful nights
and learn all that it has to offer the pampered traveler!
Batu Caves: Tour the Hindu Temple Caves
The Batu Caves are one of only 10 Shrines in the
world dedicated to the Hindu god Murugan. The complex, which
consists of numerouse shrines housed in 4 limestone caves is
the focal point in Malaysia for the Tamil celebration of
Thaipusam. This page offers a virtual tour of the entire
complex, including the caves, and explains the major temples
and the deities to whom they are dedicated. Click here or on the
photo to the left to learn more about the temples and their
gods.
The Islamic Art Museum in
Kuala Lumpur hosts the largest collection of Muslim artifacts in
Southeast Asia, and is a building we visit several times a year
with visitors, always learning something new. This webpage
features a 360 degree virtual tour of the museum and its
permanent galleries, as well as a virtual tour of one of the
special galleries that housed a spectacular painting/photo
exhibit of the Hajj in the 19th century. Click here or on
the photo to enter
After spending 3
months in pandemic lockdown, the Malaysian Control Order
(M.C.O.) was "eased" in June 2020. In the middle of that month
we left our neighborhood for the first time since March, taking
a day trip to the faux-French village of Colmar, in the
mountains of central Malaysia. About one month later we took our
first overnight adventure, journeying across the same mountains
to the east coast of Malaysia to spend a week at the Tanjong
Jara Resort. Click
here or on the photo to visit these two destinations.Thulhagiri: our trip to the Maldives
On the
second leg of our epic spring break of 2007 we
traveled to Thulhagiri Island Resort on the northern
atoll of the Maldive island chain. It was a return
after a long hiatus for Tracy, and my first trip to
this storied vacation destination. We spent our time
snorkeling, fishing, and dining on great seafood while
enjoying the white sand and the crystal clear waters
of the Indian Ocean. Click here or on
the photo to tour the island resort
You
may
remember this little corner of Southeast Asia as Burma.
Whatever the name, this still relatively isolated country is
home to some of the wonders of the ancient world. Our
mega-site show the highlights of the capital city of Yangon, including the
spectacular Shwedagon Paya,
the ancient city of Bagan
with it fantastic temples
and stupas, and the beach area of Nagapoli. Click here or on the image
to see all the sights of this magical kingdom. . .
Sri Lanka:
Visit Some of the
Highlights of Sri Lanka
Our
single page on the Lighthouse Hotel (the photo on the right)
has been expanded to an entire virtual tour of Sri Lanka,
thanks to a trip we took there in December 2002. Come visit
the cities of Colombo, Kandy and Galle. Visit the
spectacular ruins of Polunnaruwa and Sigiriya. Marvel at the
Temple of the Tooth, or tour a tea plantation in Nuwara
Eliya. All this and more is just a click away. To visit this
beautiful island off the coast of India, click
here or on the picture of the Lighthouse Hotel. . . .
Bangkok: Thailand's Capital City
We spent part of spring break enjoying the
peaceful setting of the Banyan Tree Bangkok, where we were
pampered during a three day visit. In addition to the spa
retreat, we also got to sample some of the unique shopping
opportunities afforded by Bangkok's capital city. On a
subsequent trip we got to visit Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand's
most sacred temple comples Come along for some
shopping, relaxation, and a bit of culture
Nine months after the Boxing
Day tsunami, which ventured to the Thai island of Phuket for
some rest and relaxation at the Le Royal Meridien Yacht
Club.Sam Roi Yot: See
the attractions of "Undiscovered Thailand"
4 hours south of Bangkok lies Sam
Roi Yot, often referred to a "Undiscovered Thailand." We have
owned a small house there for the past ten years. Below are
some of the sights from this holiday paradise.
Sam Roi Yot
Sights:
The Beach Village: Our little corner of Thailand
Western
Australia:
Visit The Outback
Singapore American
School sponsors ten-day trips in February of each year.
Along with another faculty member, I escorted 20 students on
a journey through Western Australia. Camping out under the
stars, we climbed, went caving, sailed, canoed, visited
towns and ranches. The entire trip is captured day-by-day,
activity-by-activity on this web page, which I made for the
school. The site is very interactive, with movies, diary
entries, videos, sounds--you name it! Click
here or on the photo to the left to visit Western
Australia.
Margaret River, Western
Australia: The Wine Country--Then and Now
We have made
two trips to the Margaret River wine region of Western
Australia, one in March of 2006 when living in Singapore, and
a return trip with family in December of 2019. The latest trip
description features a virtual tour of the wineries we
visited. Tour the wineries and see what a difference 14 years
makes! Visit
Margaret
River
Mexico:
San Miguel de
Allende:
Voted "The most beautiful city in
the world" by Travel and Leisure and Conde Nast, this
UNESCO World Heritage site is our home in the western
hemisphere. Come
sample the beauty, history and culture of this gem
of Mexican colonial architecture.
A perenially favorite holiday spot of ours, Fripp
Island is the outermost island in a barrier chain off the
coast of South Carolina. No visit to the US is complete
without a stop there to spend time with Tracy's family. We
have created a virtual tour of some of the island's scenic
spots, which you may access by clicking on the photo to the
left, or on the link above.
Take a virtual tour of the
historic landmarks in and around the Westminster area. The
tour contains a separate virtual tour of The Tower of London,
and panoramic views from the British Airways Eye and Trafalgar
Square. To begin the tour, click
here or on the image of Big Ben. At last, a trip through
London without rain or cold!
Croatia is renowned for its beautiful coastal
cities, but it is so much more than just the backdrop for Game of Thrones and a
cruise ship site. Equally impressive are its interior cities
which ooze with the charm of a bygone day. The tranquil cities
of the interior compete for attention with the stunning natural
beauty of the nation's interior. Click here or on the
image to enjoy some of the highlights of this underrated Eastern
European country. 
After numerous overnights in
Helsinki when flying Finnair, we finally put together
a virtual tour of some of the sights easily accessible
from the airport when having a layover. The virtual
tours offer a glimpse of what can be seen of this
Baltic capital if you have a few hours on your hands.
It was also the starting and ending point of our
Baltic tour in the summer of 2019, where we had the
chance to visit Scandinavian friends we met at the
Beach Village. Click
here on on the photo of Helsinki Cathedral to
take the tour.Experience the Charm of
Mougins:
Mougins
is a town of unalloyed charm, nestled in the mountains of
Provence, overlooking the Mediterranean. It is a village of
scenic beauty, and a gastronomic haven. Let's
take a stroll through through the heart of the city
center and take in its medieval charm. . .
Visit a Villa in Cabris:
Provencal Living:
Take a virtual tour of the L'adret de Ribas Villa in
Cabis, Provence where we enjoyed our second visit in four
years.
Take a Day Trip
to Biot:
Biot
is a village renowned for its crafts, particularly the
distinctive glassware that is still individually produced. See these artisans at
work . . .
Summer Fun on the Cote
d'Azur: Nice
See some of the sights
in this beautiful city, located in the heart of the French
Riviera
Florence: Visit the Cradle of the Renaissance:
Our first stop of
the summer after leaving Singapore was the Italian city of
Florence, home to many of the world's art treasures and food
par excellence. On our first trip to this city we rented an
apartment in Oltrarno, the city's old quarter, home to
craftsman and artists of every variety. From this base, we
spent a week visiting the sights and sampling the food.
While nothing can replace being there in person, perhaps our
Virtual Florence will provide you with a taste of life in
this magnificent city. Click here or on
the picture of the Duomo to start your tour. . .
In the summer of 2004 we began our vacation
by traveling to again to Italy, this time spending a week
shaking off jet lag in the magical city of Venice. Armed with
far too few Euros, but a trusty tripod and an adequate supply
of memory cards, we sampled with cultural and culinary
delights of this city of canals. So quit fretting about the
plummeting dollar and take a virtual tour of Venice. We offer
two versions: a tour of the cultural highlights (featuring the
major works of art from the major museums and cathedrals) and
an interactive map, filled with panoramas of this fabled city.
Cheaper (by far) than a gondola ride, your tour awaits you . .
.
In early July 2019 we took a southern turn on our
Baltic Tour to visit Latvia. Our travels took us to Riga,
Jurmala, Cesis and Amatciems, and included tours of castles,
medieval cities, Cold War Bunkers, and Food festivals. Click here on the photo
to take a tour of this magical place, with its blend of
ancient history and unspoiled nature.
Slovenia has everything that
the traveler looks for in a destination. Located in the
shadow of the Alps, it abounds with natural beauty. It a
land of inviting cosmpolitan cities such as the capital of
Ljubljana, beautiful coastal towns steeped in ancient
history such as Piran, and storybook settings such as Bled
Castle, overlooking the lake of the same name. Brimming
with beauty and charm, it is but a short distance from
both Croatia and Austria. Click here to be
transported to this Eastern European gem. We don't know
why Melania left!
Mallorca, in the
Islas de Baleares
The
island
of Mallorca is not all tourists and beaches. It possesses a
rugged character that few experience. Join us on a tour
of the island's interior. . . .
Visit Palma de Mallorca
Palma
de Mallorca is a scenic port town with a distinct charm.
From its beautiful harbor to its castles, cathedrals and
forts, Palma's old city is one of the gems of the
Mediterranean. See for
yourself . . .
Our summer 2019
trip continued in Sweden where we visited Stockolm, touring
Gamla Stan (shown in the photo to the lef)t, the Vasa
Museum, and Kungsholmen Island. We then traveled north to
the university town of Uppsala before sampling the pleasures
of a Swedish summer on the island of Oland, Sweden's summer
playground. Click here
or on the photo to begin a tour of these sites
Turkey:
Istanbul: At the Crossroads of Europe and
Asia
Istanbul
straddles the Bosporus, the link between the Asian Near East
and Europe. Nothing symbolizes that duality more than the
Hagia Sofia, the grand Christian Cathedral later transformed
into a mosque during that period when the Asian side of the
Bosporus was in ascendancy. We visited this beautiful city
this spring as presenters at the Near East South Asia
Conference of schools (NESA). We enjoyed the conference, and
had a wonderful time sampling the sights of this ancient
city. Click here to
see the sights of Istanbul. . .
Egypt:
Visit the Great Pyramids
of Ghiza
We
finally got a chance to visit the Great Pyramids on our
recent track trip to Cairo. It was truly a spectacular
sight! Visit our Pyramid page and see pictures of Great
Pyramides and the Sphinx at both day and night. Come on in. . .
Tour Byblos, the Oldest
City in the World
Byblos is reported to be the oldest city in the world
in continuous existence. Located on the Mediterranean about 30
minutes north of Beirut, it boasts a sea side Crusader's Castle,
plus wonderfully preserved remnants of the Phoenician, Egyptian,
Alexandrian and Roman civilization who made their mark on this
port city. Come along for a tour of this town famous also as a
center of letters. Byblos, from whence we get the word Bible, is
an Arabic term for papyrus, and for centuries this city
prospered as a seat of government and learning. Our tour starts at the Sea Wall. . .
See Sidon
See
the sights from this ancient port in southern Lebanon. An
ancient Phoenician port and a Crusader stronghold, Sidon has
much to offer the traveler, from a magnificent harbor to ancient
souks. Come and experience the charm
of this port city with a rich past...........
Tour Tyre
Tyre, the
southernmost major city in Lebanon is a charming port city,
replete with lovely old souks, a fishing port, and a wealth of
Archeological finds. Double-click
here, or on the harbor picture
Fall Break Visit to
the Chouf Mountains
During our October fall break we set out to visit some
of the sights in the Chouf Mountains, southeast of Beirut. See
highlights of our visit to the Cedars of the Chouf, the
Beiteddine Palace and a trip to the Kefraya winery in the Bekka
Valley. Click
here or on the picture to start the tour. . .
Immerse Yourself in
VIRTUAL BAALBEK
On our last break we visited the most spectacular set
of Roman ruins in the Middle East, the temple complex of
Baalbeck in the beautiful Bekka valley. We now bring it to you
in the form of VIRTUAL BAALBEK,
the only virtual reality tour of this spectacular site on the
world wide web. Tour each of the temples via interlocking
panoramas, as well as the attractions of the surrounding area.
Months in the making, VIRTUAL
BAALBEK is but a click away. . .
Just a short distance away from Baalbck in
the Bekka Valley are the ruins of the ancient Omayaad city of
Anjar, in its heydey a major city on the trade routes going
south to Palestine or east toward Damascus. VIRTUAL ANJAR takes you through
a tour of the major features of this once bustling city. The next tour is about to depart. .
.
Syria:
Visit the "Old City" of
Damascus
Come
take a quick tour of the Old
City of Damascus and seek the souks (markets), the famous
Omayyad Mosque, and a few architectural delights of this ancient
city.
The first stop on our winter holiday in Syria was at the
grandaddy of the Crusader Castles, the Krak de Chevaliers, a
mountain fortress we visited enroute to a Christmas celebration in
Aleppo, Syria. Click here to visit
the mountain stronghold. . . 
Our second stop on winter
holiday was in the Syrian city of Aleppo, shown here. We stayed
at an old merchant serai in the Armenian quarter which had been
converted into a charming hotel. We saw the sights of Aleppo,
including the souk, the imposing citadel, and some amazing
restaurants (in stark contrast to our culinary experiences in
Damascus. Click here or on the
picture to see the sights of Aleppo. . .
