Author: Jan Haenraets

Infinite Landscapes of Volcanic Iceland

The landscapes of Iceland are defined by their volcanically active geology. This relatively young Nordic island sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge formed along the tectonic fault line between the North American continental plate and the Eurasian plate. The island attract millions of visitors annually that look to experience a taste of Iceland’s infinite landscapes, stunning volcanic and geological …

Japanese Cherry Blossoms – Washington, DC Exhibitions

Two beautiful exhibitions on the theme of the Japanese cherries are running in Washington, DC in Spring 2018. The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum host the exhibit on Sakura Orihon: Diary of a Cherry Blossom Journey, which runs from March 10 to April 8. It showcases the journey by landscape architect Ron Henderson from south to north Japan …

Olympism and the Unifying Spirit of the Korean Mountains

The Olympic idea originated in the hilly region of Olympia, a sanctuary of ancient Greece on the Peloponnese peninsula. Every four years, from the 8th century BCE until the 4th century CE, the Olympic Games of the classical antiquity were organized here, at the base of the revered Mount Kronos. The Korean peninsula, like Greece, is a …

In the Footsteps of the Great Navigators: Tranquility and History in Hirado, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

One more final transfer at Imari station before arriving in Hirado. The booked tickets from Hiroshima to Hirado showed ten minutes to make the connection in Imari. It would be “plenty of time” and “Imari was a small station”, were the messages given in Hiroshima. There are few countries were you can voyage on a long journey …

Revolution to Renaissance: The Continuing Industrial Experiment of Lowell, Massachusetts

The city of Lowell in Massachusetts along the Merrimack River was established in the early 19th century as an experimental money-making industrial venture and as the first planned industrial town in North America. It spearheaded the Industrial Revolution in New England, while encountering a dramatic decline in the 20th century. A new commitment to the preservation …

Islands and Heritage of Japan’s Nagasaki Prefecture

In this series of articles several aspects of heritage, conservation, design, cultural tourism and sustainable development on the tranquil and rural islands of the Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan are being explored. These are places steeped in history but less known amongst visitors to Japan. The character of these islands is less urbanized than some of …