Rising Suns & Sacred Lands
Photo of a rising sun to represent this post “Rising Suns & Sacred Lands”
Editor’s note: This post will evolve just as I do.
Welcome back, curious minds and kind-hearted souls to another trip. As we continue to make our way through Asia, our Around the World journey is a quick introduction through every country in the world, roughly six countries at a time. It’s less about “checking places off” and more about recognizing the world we live in by learning names, histories, cultures, and the stories people carry in a brief overview.
This chapter, “Rising Suns & Sacred Lands,” brings us into a region shaped by both devotion and dawn, from Japan’s rising sun to Israel’s sacred stones, and onward through Indonesia’s island traditions, Iran’s poetry and faith, Iraq’s ancient foundations, and Jordan’s desert legends. These are lands layered with memory, where the past still breathes, and meaning is woven into every prayer, path, and sunrise.
So, let’s step gently into this part of the journey, open to learning, listening, and letting these six countries show us what it means for land to hold both history and hope.
Hand drawn flag of Indonesia
INDONESIA
Official name: Republic of Indonesia
Pronunciation: in-duh-nee-zhuh
Capital: Jakarta
Official language: Indonesian
Location: Island country in Southeastern Asia located around the equator so both in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Near Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Papua New Guinea
Climate: Tropical
Most known for: Tropical islands, including: Bali, Lombok, and Java
Fun fact: World’s largest archipelago, consisting of over 17,000 islands. Archipelago means a group of islands, per Oxford Languages.
Recent news article: Connecting Indonesia’s environmental stories to millions
My knowledge: I’m familiar with Indonesia
Hand drawn flag of Iran
IRAN
Official name: The Islamic Republic of Iran
Pronunciation: ur-aan
Capital: Tehran
Official language: Persian (Farsi)
Location: In Western Asia (part of MENA as its also located in the Middle East) within the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan
Climate: Arid to semiarid to humid, subtropical
Most known for: Persian history and culture dating back to Achaemenid Empire in 550 BCE. For more detailed information, I suggest checking out Britannica-Archaemenian Dynasty [here], Penn Museum Expedition Magazine-The Achaemenid Empire [here], or The Met-The Achaemenid Persian Empire 550-330 BC [here]
Fun fact: World’s largest producer of Saffron. Saffron is food coloring and is used to flavor foods. Over 90% comes from Iran.
Recent news article: Difficulties grow in Iran
My knowledge: I don’t have much knowledge on the subject
Hand drawn flag of Iraq
IRAQ
Official name: Republic of Iraq
Pronunciation: ur-aak
Capital: Baghdad
Official language: Arabic and Kurdish
Location: In Western Asia as well as in the Middle East (and a part of MENA) in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and Iran
Climate: Continental and subtropical
Most known for: “Cradle of Civilization” referring to the Sumerians. For more information, read EBSCO’s Sumer (ancient region), Iraq.
Fun fact: Iraq is the origin of the superstition that black cats bring bad luck
Recent news article: Iraq and the United Nations Advance Key Commitments to Strengthen Social Protection Ahead of the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2)
My knowledge: I’m not familiar
Hand drawn flag of Israel
ISRAEL
Official name: The State of Israel
Pronunciation: iz-ree-uhl
Capital: Jerusalem
Official language: Hebrew and Arabic
Location: Western Asia and within the Middle East (part of MENA) in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt
Climate: Mediterranean
Most known for: It’s biblical history
Fun fact: Has the most museums per capita in the world
Recent news article: What went right this week: the Gaza ceasefire deal, renewables overtook coal for the first time, and the “European Green Capital” was revealed, plus more good news
My knowledge: I know some things about Israel but still not all that familiar
Hand drawn flag of Japan
JAPAN
Official name: Japan (or translated “the State of Japan”)
Pronunciation: juh-pan
Capital: Tokyo
Official language: Japanese
Location: Island country in Eastern Asia in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Near North and South Korea, Russia, and China
Climate: Subarctic to subtropical
Most known for: Its modern innovation
Fun fact: Home to the world’s busiest intersection, Shibuya Crossing
Recent news article: 5 Things to know about Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister
My knowledge: More familiar with Japan
Hand drawn flag of Jordan
JORDAN
Official name: the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
Pronunciation: jor-dn
Capital: Amman
Official language: Arabic
Location: In the Middle East (part of MENA) and in Western Asia in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, and Syria
Climate: Mediterranean to desert
Most known for: Ancient ruins, such as Jerash. One of the best reserved Roman cities in the world. For more information, check out Jordan Tourism Board’s page of Jerash [read here] or Lonely Planet’s Roman Ruins of Jerash [here]
Fun fact: Home to the lowest point on Earth. Located in the Dead Sea along the coast of Jordan and Israel, the shores are about 1,400 feet below sea level
Recent news article: Jordan’s fine dining scene takes a seat at the awards table
My knowledge: Not very knowledgeable in regards to Jordan
From Japan’s morning light to Israel’s sacred stones, and the ancient echoes of Iraq, Iran, Jordan, and Indonesia, this chapter showed us that some places carry history not just in monuments, but in the way people move, pray, speak, greet, and gather. These are lands where memory is not behind us, it’s alive, woven into the everyday.
If there’s one lesson I’m carrying from Rising Suns & Sacred Lands, it’s this:
When you travel, don’t just look. Participate. Pause for the sunrise, learn the greeting, try the ritual, taste the unfamiliar, ask the meaning behind what you see. Sometimes the deepest understanding comes from being a guest, not just an observer.
As our Around the World journey continues, my hope is that these places open your perspective a bit wider. Reminding us that the world is shaped by many truths, many stories, many sacred wats of being.
With that, I'd love to hear from you. If you’re from, have lived in, or visited any of these six countries, what moment stayed with you? And if you’re just joining, welcome. We travel often here. The more countries, the more stories, and with more stories means more learning ahead. For now, sending you peace, hope, and light until our next flight.
As a signature of my blog, I’d like to end this post with a suggestion to “Pass on kindness.” There’s no time like the present to Inspire Those Who Inspire You. Acts of kindness, no matter how big or small, can have a direct, positive impact on someone else. Go out there today and change someone’s life for the better!
***These are my personal opinions and may not be those of my employer.***
