November 2025 – I had the opportunity to visit the UNESCO Creative City and World Heritage Site of Tétuoan. The story of Tétouan is tied to the narratives of the expelled Hispanic Jews in the 15th century. The largest influx of Jews to Africa came after a series of violent episodes against Jews during the…
Tag: Heritage
Northwest Morocco: The Blue City of Chefchaouen
On the last day of my stay in Tangiers, I initially wanted to stay and see the city. Besides, I was already excited to see Rabat, Marrakech, and Casablanca in the next five days, after a lengthy official meeting with my professional organization. On my last day in Tangiers, I had planned to go spelunking…
More, more, Morocco! Experiencing Tangiers
In the last week of November 2025, I had the chance to travel to Morocco. A week before my trip, I couldn’t sleep because I was incredibly excited. I’ve always wanted to see Morocco – it’s always been an exotic place to me. I remember wanting to travel from Manchester to Marrakech during my residency…
Aachen’s Charm is a World Wonder
And of course, Aachen is a world wonder because its cathedral (Aachen Cathedral) is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. My third time in Germany, second time in Cologne. This time, on official business, as an Executive Committee member of the International Federation for Theatre Research, whose members met at the University of Cologne for the…
Salem – the story of a religion gone awry
My trip to Boston was meant to support a good friend whose work as a playwright was having a world premiere at the Boston Arts Center. Boston is a city known for its significant role in the American Revolution, leading to the independence of what is now known as the United States. When thinking about…
Hello, Philly! or Where the US of A was born
When I think of Philadelphia, I think of a sandwich made of thinly sliced beef, melted cheese, and often sauteed onions, all served on a hoagie roll. That beef is usually ribeye! The cheese – oh all American – what else – Cheezwiz! But other Philly (how Philadelphia is called in the US) locals use…
Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in Bethlehem
Two years ago, my family and I embarked on what was publicized a “life-changing journey” to the Holy Land. Our travel agency identified three countries belonging to the Holy Land cluster: Jordan, Israel, and Egypt. However, we actually visited four. The agency missed Palestine. The State of Palestine is literally and figuratively at a crossroads….
Once upon a time, there was an “Artist Playground,” somewhere in Germany
They call it a colony, a space where people with a shared interest live together. The interest: German modernist art, particularly art nouveau. It was my second time in Frankfurt—for the same reason: to participate in the Frankfurter Buchmesse. I was here in 2017 to launch a book at the Philippine stand (there was not…
Ayutthaya: The Interplay of Hindu and Buddhist Creativity
Ayutthaya is located in central Thailand, about 90 km north of Bangkok, the gateway to this popular SEA destination. The city, also known as the Historic City of Ayutthaya, is home to magnificent temples and other structures that are important both historically and architecturally. As one of the world’s largest cities of its time and…
Tallinn: From Russian Nobility to Baltic Cultural Identity to a Fairy Tale Wonderland (Part 2 of 2)
If there is another interesting historical moment in Tallinn that I learned from our trip there, it would be the Baltic Way Revolution, a peaceful political demonstration which took place on 23 August 1989. An approximately two million people joined their hands forming a 600 km long human chain throughout the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia,…
Tanghal Kultura 