In 2022, I traveled to 95 cities in eight countries for a total of 198 days abroad.
When I reflected on my top 2022 travel experiences, I came up with three (let’s call them ) “events” almost immediately: my first trip to Ireland which became a trip home. Dubai Expo 2020, a global village and a vision of the future. Setouchi Triennale in Japan’s magical Seto Sea.
View MoreAttending a local temple, talking to Balinese, learning about its culture, and spending 30 days here allowed me to see the two faces of Bali in the way that the Balinese see life itself: a contest between good and evil where the outcome is not victory for one side or the other. it is keeping the two opposites in balance. This is what the Balinese call Rwa Bhineda. Like the Balinese themselves, my time on the island contained both the good and the bad. I am not sure I would have had it any other way.
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Japan fully reopened in October 2022, just in time to enjoy the autumn session of the marvelous Setouchi Triennial. Setouchi 2022. Thank you, Japan.
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Istanbul is by design both European and Asian. While most of Turkey is in Asia (Minor), the majority of its (former) capital is in Europe. This is another dimension of Istanbul’s duality and its complicated geography. It is the literal crossroads of continents. Istanbul not only spans two continents, it lies between two seas, The Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. These are connected by the Bosporous, named after a Greek God, and a defining feature of the City. Istanbul spans two worlds twice: Europe and Asia,
the ancient and the modern.
The emotional highlight was my visit to the Ukraine Pavilion. Visitors from all over the world have left messages of peace and encouragement. They cover the walls and staircases. They are written in a dozen languages. This was a crowd-sourced, low-tech, high-touch exhibit. A black sharpie making an indelible impression on a 3M sticky of a thought, a hope. a plea, a cry of the heart. This was the best exhibition at Dubai Expo2020.
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