I went running this morning from the church of St. Germain des Pres past the St. Sulpice church (pictured above) and into the Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Garden). I have run in so many cities around the world — from Berlin to Santiago — but nothing quite measures up to the experience of running in Paris. In the Jardin du Luxembourg itself, there are many atmospheric fountains such as the Marie de’ Medici fountain (pictured below), built in 1630 by Marie de’ Medici and moved to the Jardin du Luxembourg in the late 1800s.

At one end of the Luxembourg garden, you run past the Palais du Luxembourg, formerly a palace that now houses the French Senate.

View from rue du Suffren around 8:30 pm onto a glowing Eiffel Tower.

Paris is full of delightful little surprises like this one, an antique carrousel from a bygone age. This one is in Parc Monceau in the 8th arrondissement. On Sundays, Parc Monceau is filled with families picnicking on the grass, elderly men and women sitting on benches chatting and drinking coffee, sporty types jogging along the periphery, and children running and climbing the trees.

Kek Lok Si in Penang, Malaysia is the largest Buddhist temple complex in Southeast Asia. The architecture and interiors are anything but minimalist, and it is quite a commercial operation with shops on all levels.

View of Milford Sound New Zealand from helicopter

Helicopter view of mountains near Milford Sound

Quiet beach in Kaikoura, New Zealand

See Mapplr’s posts on New Zealand.