Category Archives: Cultural Focus

A story, tradition or experience relating to people in a particular place…

A couple at Tianamen Square, Beijing, China, Asia  The year of the Rabbit is over. 2012 marks the year of the Dragon.  The Chinese New Year, beginning on January 23rd, is a 14 day holiday celebrated with fireworks, time off from work, red paper decorations, rice dumplings and family reunions. People light candles and carry lit lanterns to an evening […]

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  Mao YinFu is a master calligrapher and painter that draws inspiration from the lofty panoramic views from his home atop Yellow Mountain, in Huangshan, China. This sacred mountain has inspired poets, painters and musicians for centuries… and photographers too, once cameras were invented. Sheer magic occurs when mystical clouds engulf the mountains. As luck would have it, sunshine kept the […]

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Days of the Dead altar, Yucatan, Mexico  Every year on November 1 & 2, people in Mexico and other Latin American countries celebrate Days of the Dead, or Dia Los Muertos, to remember deceased family members and their ancestors. Altars are erected to honor an individual with photos, favorite foods, beverages, momentos along with sugared […]

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Soft breezes flutter across my bare skin in the serene outdoor sanctuary where a masseuse expertly dissolves knots from my neck. Faint smells of floral petals and essential oils linger in the air as I deeply inhale and exhale even longer, relaxing tensed muscles. Ahhhh. And this was just the beginning of a 3 hour […]

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