In 1790, when construction began on the huge structure shown in our January mystery photo, the plan was that it would eventually reach a height of 490 feet. However, the project was abandoned long before that. Today, the Mingun Pahtodawgyi -- a monument stupa in the town of Mingun, located across the Irrawaddy River from Mandalay in central Myanmar -- is "only" 164 feet tall and is sometimes referred to as the "world's largest pile of bricks."
Living in southwestern Pennsylvania, my husband and I go to ramp feeds and festivals, mostly in West Virginia and usually in April.
Ramps are wild leeks. They are one of the first edible plants to ripen in the Appalachian forests in the spring. Beginning in April and continuing through May, scores of community ramp dinners and festivals are held. Many are small affairs, but others feed more than 1,000 people a day. Traditionally, the dinners are fund raisers for churches, libraries and fire departments. Often, there are also flea markets.
8-day, 7-night “challenging” tour in western CANADA. Departures May-Sept. 2022 & 2023. Highlights: In Banff, learn about medicinal plants on forest walk/Lake Louise/Moraine Lake in Valley of Ten Peaks/Icefields Parkway/walk on Athabasca Glacier/Jasper National Park. From $3,675 ppdo; with extension, from $5,950 ppdo. Single supp., from $1,400.
26-day, 25-night cultural, historian-led tour, Sept. 18-Oct. 13, 2022. Group limit, 6-12. Highlights: In Tunisia, Bardo Natural Museum in Tunis, Antonine Baths in Carthage, 3rd-century Amphitheatre of El Jem, Sousse Archaeological Museum in Sousse/in Algeria, Kasbah of Algiers, Mausoleum of Medracen in Balta/in Mauritania, medieval Berber town of Chinguetti, Neolithic rock paintings near Amogjar Pass. $10,985 ppdo. Single supp., $1,585. Flights not included.
