Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Preface
Introduction
Chapter One: Wilderness Treks
Bhutan—Tackling the Snowman Trek
Bhutan—Treading Mystical Lands along the Merak to Sakteng Cultural Trek
Iceland—Finding Solitude in Eastern Iceland
Chapter Two: Little-Known Hikes
Colombia—Entering the Home of the Sun God in the Páramo de Ocetá
Cuba—Uniting Sierra, Cigars and Solitude in Parque Nacional Viñales
Faroe Islands—Dodging Wind and Rain across Vágar and Gjógv
Portugal—Capturing the Milky Way in Madeira
Chapter Three: Ancient Temples
Bhutan—Chasing Demons in Chimi Lhakhang
Myanmar—Biking through Bagan’s Four Thousand Temples
Myanmar—Meeting Monks in Nyaungshwe
Myanmar—Behold Gold and Treasure at Yangon’s Shwedagon Paya
Sri Lanka—Walking with Pilgrims at Mihintale
Sri Lanka—Scrambling Up the Boulder Temple of Pidurangala
Chapter Four: Rare Festivals
Bhutan—Unmasking the Yak Cham
Bhutan—Glimpsing Sakteng’s Secluded Ceremonies
Bhutan—Burning Arches and Masked Dancers at the Tamshing Phala Choepa
Bhutan—Translating Sutras inside Thimphu’s Buddha Dordenma
China—Unrolling Tibet’s Oldest Thangka at the Gyantse Festival
Malawi—Dancing the Malipenga on the Shores of Lake Malawi
Chapter Five: Fallen Kingdoms
Estonia—Unravelling Tragedy and Myth at Kuressaare Castle
Latvia—Finding Rugged Simplicity at Cēsis Castle
Lithuania—Mingling with the Old and New in Refined Vilnius
Sri Lanka—Delving into the Spiritual Past of Anuradhapura
Sri Lanka—Shifting Waters at the Kingdom of Polonnaruwa
Chapter Six: Modern Metropolises
Bhutan—A Trickle of Change Enters the Secluded Capital of Thimphu
Brunei Darussalam—Discover Bandar Seri Begawan’s Pulse beneath its Formal Facade
Cuba—Losing Yourself in Havana’s Tangle of Art, History and Authority
Myanmar—Mandalay’s Shimmer and Serenity
About the Author
Other Books by the Author
Bibliography
