The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh

The regal golden roof of the Royal Palace dominates the skyline of this ancient city, inspiring awe and admiration among locals and visitors. Stroll through the well manicured gardens and savor the peace and tranquility enjoyed by kings in centuries past. The tall ceilings bring a refreshing coolness to the palatial interior while the austere statues convey a sense of the imperial power that centered in this magnificent complex in the days when monarchs ruled the land.

The Royal Palace of Phnom Penh

Close up of the face at the top of the Royal Palace

Spring Peach Blossoms in Suzhou

With the arrival of spring in late march and early April, Suzhou is transformed into a wondrous garden city festooned with colorful blooms and fragrant flowers. Streets are lined with spectacular neat rows of peach, cherry and azalea blossoms, making a drive around town seem like a journey in wonderland.

A stroll through the manicured gardens brings you a veritable visual feast, with pastels and shades of pink, red and yellow vying for attention every corner you turn. Springtime in Suzhou is truly a marvel that makes you feel blessed to be alive.

Peach blossoms in Suzhou in Spring

Bear going after a crab in Hokkaido

These massive figures at a restaurant in Hokkaido, where grizzlies roam the forest, are positioned such that, when viewed from a certain angle, the bear appears to be ready to pounce on the crab. The restaurant serves excellent fresh king crab cooked in hot pot, a wonderful way to warm the stomach after braving the blustery winter storm to get to the eatery. Temperatures are often around minus 5 to ten degrees Celsius during the day around here.

Bear on a roof

Giant Statue of Jesus in Vung Tau, Vietnam.

This is on a small hill facing the South China Sea. Visitors can climb up to the top of the shoulders using stairs inside the statue itself. The view from the top is spectacular.

It's spring - enjoy the blossoms and nature's rejuvenation!

Koh Chong Kuan in Hangzhou.