Events 
China: “Turandot” revisited in Beijing(2)
Not planned, but welcome nonetheless: A quick week in Beijing, my old stomping ground. The occasion was a visit to a new production of Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Turandot” by the same directing/designing team that I had worked with in 1997/98 for “Turandot in the Forbidden City”: Zhang Yimou, Chen Weiya, Zeng Li and Gao Guangjian. [...]
Full Story»
Australia: The magic of the Great Barrier Reef
When I dutifully booked an excursion to the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, I did so more out of a sense of duty of having to visit this one of Australia’s most iconic destinations. I owed it to myself, I said, since I am in FNQ – Far Northern Queensland – as the locals call [...]
Sydney: Views at every turn
At the risk of stating the obvious, Sydney really is a beautiful city. Wherever you turn, a panoramic view opens – of the harbour, a cove, a bay, an inlet, a beach, a bridge, a point, a head, a park, a dip, a summit feature, etc. etc. And from very many places – a glimpse [...]
Rotorua: The compleat hot springs experience
My forrays to the New Zealand hot springs were by far the most fun of my around-the-world trip so far. I admit to being a spa-water-mud addict and will gladly spring into any naturally hot thermal waters anywhere. But four hot springs/spas in four days – I really felt like having a gourmet feast! And [...]