In August, 2018, I went for a retreat at the Sharpham Estate, a Georgian mansion in Devon, England. Many of the grounds nearby were designed by the 18th-century gardener and landscape architect known as Capability Brown, sometimes called “England’s greatest gardener.”

Although I lived in the United Kingdom for nine years, I didn’t get around to visiting Wales until 2022. I drove in a loop, from Cardiff to Snowdonia National Park via the West Coast. I thought I had seen the height of British gardening in London, but was impressed by Bodnant Garden, near Conwy.

I’ve been to Turkey five times, for both work and pleasure, and I’ve loved every trip. The architecture, the people, the food, and the rich heritage and archaeological sites make it one of my favorite destinations.

I first went to Thailand for work, in 1996, to write about some jazz musicians touring there and to report on AIDS research. I met my future wife then, and married her in 2000. As a result, I have been to Thailand many times and been steeped in its culture, people, and way of celebrating Buddhism.