Category Archives: Asia

Maps Make The World

Posted on June 1, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Have you ever wondered how cartographers created accurate maps of the world long before the development of aircraft or satellites ? The very informative short video below cleverly summarizes the history and development of maps throughout the ages. NB: If … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Asia, Europe, Film, History, Maps | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Just Another Manic Monday of Miscellany

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

The coolest doorway in Paris is at number 29 Avenue Rapp . Mondrian’s mysticism: Evolution (1910–1911) A NEW NATIONAL ANTHEM Ada Limón The truth is, I’ve never cared for the National Anthem. If you think about it, it’s not a … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Books, Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Real Writer’s Cafe

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Every coffeeshop in the world these days seems to be populated by folks busily working on writing projects of some kind. Now a café located in the Koenji district of Tokyo has opened to help writers meet their project goals.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Restaurants, Writing | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

What People Read

Posted on April 1, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Regular visitors to TBTP are well aware that I am way too fond of clever infographics. I’m especially kean on the ones that examine reading habits around the world. The graphic above, which was created by Studying in Switzerland used international … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Books, Canada, ebooks, Europe | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Hotel Art

Posted on March 28, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I have stayed in literally hundreds of hotel rooms over the years, but I rarely pay close attention to the furnishings or amenities. Unlike Japanese architect Kei Endo who focuses intently on her hotel surroundings. She then creates beautifully rendered … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Asia, Hotels, Tourism | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Monday with Murakami

Posted on February 21, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Regular visitors to TBTP are well aware of my admiration for the Japanese author Haruki Murakami. I recently discovered this list of his five favorite books. Unsurprisingly, they are on my favorites list as well. F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby … Continue reading →

Posted in Asia, Books, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Book House Library

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

These days it seems that the most innovative libraries are found in China. The  luminous Pingtan Book House Library is a new library in the rural village of Pingtan, China. It takes shape as an ‘infinitely looping’ staircase enclosed by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Asia, Books, Libraries | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Sundry Sunday Seven

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

January 1, 2022 was Public Domain Day here in the USA. Among the works entering the public domain was Heminway’s great novel The Sun Also Rises. The Center for the Study of the Public Domain lists thousands of books and recordings … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Asia, Books, Bookstore Tourism, Europe, Hotels, Museums, Tourism, USA, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Foxfires New Year’s Eve

Posted on December 31, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Foxes gather at the large, old enoki (hackberry) tree on New Year’s Eve to prepare to pay homage at the Ōji Inari shrine, the headquarters of the Inari cult in eastern Japan (Kantō). The cult centers on the god of … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Cranes are flying

Posted on December 29, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

The end of the year always seems like the appropriate time to clear out my overwhelming cache of saved images. Of course there are lots of travel posters. This time I found a small collection of Japanese travel related posters. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Asia, Public Transport, Tourism | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment