Asia Pacific

Honestly, Asia Pacific is a broad category that simplistically aggregates a set of large, diverse countries and cultures that have certain historical and geographical commonality (they are far across the Pacific!). They are interesting not only because they are obviously so different from my experience, but they are also very different from each other. The differences can be ‘in your face’ at times making it challenging to be a tourist. There are grand scenes here, of course, but for me, this region has the most to share in the way of the simple, memorable sights that this website is about.

Two massive Skyscrapers stand near one another and appear almost touching.
A nighttime city view shows illuminated high-rises and glass buildings packed closely together.
Thunder Creek Falls drops in a white ribbon between dark green trees and steep, brush-covered slopes.
Weathered metal houses, bicycles, and domestic objects fill a compact neighborhood lane in Tai O.
A man leans from a small doorway beside sandals, a bicycle, and metal walls in Tai O.
A dramatic shaft of light catches a rocky summit while heavy clouds and shadowed slopes fill the scene.
Stirling Falls plunges from a sheer, mossy cliff with white spray billowing across the dark foreground.
High view of a packed antique market stall filled with clocks, framed items, lamps, and collectibles.
Black and white street scene showing a seated man smoking among scrap materials, bicycles, and stacked objects.
A decaying yellow and blue truck rests beside a gravel road with tawny hills rising behind it.
Peter's Pond reflects steep green mountains and cloudy sky, bordered by grasses and low shoreline shrubs.
Jagged Mount Cook slopes show deep crevasses, white glacier ice, and dark exposed rock in crisp light.
A narrow path of wet stone steps disappears into lush ferns, moss, and dark rainforest trees.
Mitre Peak emerges through heavy mist above calm water and forested slopes in Milford Sound.
Several attendants carefully arrange a bride's traditional kimono during a ceremony at Meiji Shrine.
McLean Falls spreads over stepped rock ledges surrounded by moss, ferns, and dense forest.
Large Buddha statue appears faint and nearly hidden behind fog above dark treetops on Lantau Island.
Several leafless willow trees rise from shallow blue-green water, with golden slopes and mountains beyond.
Lake Manapouri fills the foreground with dark blue water, backed by shoreline trees and distant mountain ridges.
Empty Kyoto street with stone paving, steps, walls, and warm light fading between traditional buildings.
Market booth scene with a resting vendor hidden behind a large paper umbrella and baskets.
Several gondola cable cars hang from wires, receding upward across a bright blue sky.
Going-to-the-Sun Mountain rises sharply beyond a dark lake, with shafts of light cutting through passing clouds.
Dark green valley walls and gray river stones frame the distant Franz Josef Glacier under turbulent clouds.
The Donne River rushes over large boulders between dense forest and misty mountain ridges.
Devil's Punchbowl waterfall falls beside steep gray rock walls, with broken boulders and brush below.
The largest waterfall on Milford Sound, very close to the tourist boat harbor.
Colorful hats and clothing of beach tourists contrasts dramatically with the fishermen dragging boatloads of seaweed down the shoreline.
A man stands inside a cluttered workshop surrounded by bottles, tools, and a motorcycle.
Majestic mountains of the Southern Alps rise dramatically west of Christchurch and can be crossed via this pass.