Spice & Ancient Temples
Captured on a letter board, William Cowper’s quote “Variety’s the spice of life” lying in front of a dandelion-knit blanket
Editor’s note: This post will continue to evolve as I do.
Welcome explorers, adventurous souls, and thoughtful storytellers. For those returning, thank you for continuing this journey. For those just joining, Around the World is a quick, intentional exploration of every country, shared six at a time to help us learn, recognize, and appreciate the world we live in.
This week’s chapter, “Spice & Ancient Temples,” invites us into Asia, where history speaks in layers and culture is lived, not just remembered. From Brunei’s quiet opulence to Cambodia’s sacred ruins, China’s deep dynasties to Cyprus’ crossroads of identity, Georgia’s mountain hospitality to India’s riot of color and spices, each of these places carries a story shaped by time, faith, trade, and resilience.
As William Cowper once wrote, “Variety’s the very spice of life.” Here, that variety isn’t just flavor, it’s language, memory, tradition, and the many ways people make meaning out of place.
So, with open hearts and curious minds, let’s step into this week’s journey, discovering what each of these six nations can teach us about culture, connection, and the beauty of difference.
Hand drawn flag of Brunei
BRUNEI
Official name: Nevada Brunei Darussalam
Pronunciation: broo-nai
Capital: Bander Seri Begawon
Official language: Malay7 in schools, English is also widely used
Location: In Southeastern Asia on the island of Borneo just above the equator in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Indonesia
Climate: Tropical rainforest
Most known for: vast oil and natural gas reserves
Fun fact: Home to the World’s largest residential place known as Istana Nurul Iman (or The Sultan’s Palace) with 1,788 rooms and 257 bathrooms.
Recent news article: Philippines, Brunei forge anti-fisheries trade deal
My knowledge: I don’t have much knowledge of Brunei
Hand drawn flag of Cambodia
CAMBODIA
Official name: Kingdom of Cambodia
Pronunciation: kam-bow-dee-uh
Capital: Phnom Penh
Official language: Khmer
Location: In Southeastern Asia in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam
Climate: Tropical
Most known for: Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument
Fun fact: Only flag in the world with a building featured on it
Recent news article: Cambodia opens a new $2 billion airport to serve Phnom Penh
My knowledge: I’m unfamiliar with Cambodia
Hand drawn flag of China
CHINA
Official name: People’s Republic of China (PRC)
Pronunciation: chai-nuh
Capital: Beijing
Official language: Mandarin Chinese known as Putonghua
Location: In East Asia in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, and North Korea
Climate: Tropical to subartic with alpine conditions
Most known for: Ancient history, such as the Great Wall
Fun fact: Despite spanning five time zones it only uses one (BJT - Beijing Time nationally but CST - Chinese Standard Time internationally)
Recent news article: Our first look at the next Five-Year Plan shows China staying the course
My knowledge: I’m quite familiar with China
Hand drawn flag of Cyprus
CYPRUS
Official name: The Republic of Cyprus
Pronunciation: sai-pruhs
Capital: Nicosia (also known as Lefkosia or Lefkoşa)
Official language: Greek and Turkish
Location: Island country off the Western Coast of Asia (also a part of MENA as it’s considered part of the Middle East) in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Near Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Egypt
Climate: Mediterranean
Most known for: Mythological birthplace of Aphrodite
Fun fact: First country to place a map of its own country on its flag
Recent news article: Cyprus has a cat problem: One feline for every resident
My knowledge: Not too familiar with Cyprus
Hand drawn flag of Georgia
GEORGIA
Official name: Republic of Georgia
Pronunciation: jor-juh
Capital: Tbilisi
Official language: Georgian
Location: Western Asia at crossroads of Eastern Europe in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey
Climate: Humid subtropical
Most known for: Birthplace of wine with 8,000 year old winemaking tradition
Fun fact: World’s deepest cave, the Veryovkina Cave, with a depth of 7,257 feet
Recent news article: What changes will come into effect in Georgia from October 2025?
My knowledge: More familiar with Georgia as its easier to remember because one of the USA’s states is Georgia
Hand drawn flag of India
INDIA
Official name: the Republic of India
Pronunciation: in-dee-uh
Capital: New Delhi
Official language: Hindi
Location: In South Asia in the Northern Hemisphere
Surrounding countries: Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh
Climate: Tropical to subartic
Most known for: Rich cultural heritage, such as Bollywood
Fun fact: Home to the World’s wettest place of Mawsynram
Recent news article: Air India Introduces Non-Stop Delhi-Manila Flights Starting October 2025
My knowledge: Familiar with India
From ancient temple stones warmed by the sun to markets scented with spice and memory, this chapter of our Around the World journey, “Spice & Ancient Temples,” reminds us that culture is something we feel long before we understand it. Each country we explored today carries its own rhythm, beliefs, flavors, and ways of being. And none of them exist in only one time or one version.
If there’s a lesson here, it’s this: To travel well is to stay teachable. And to truly see another place, we have to let go of the idea that our perspective is the default. The world is full of multiple truths, layered histories, and ways of living that can widen us, if we let them.
The second lesson: Beauty is rarely loud, it’s in the details. A handwoven cloth. An incense filled shrine. A shared meal. A word spoken softly. Meaning lives in small things whe we slow down enough to notice.
As our Around the World Series continues, I hope this chapter encourages you to look for wonder in the unfamiliar. And to welcome difference as an invitation, not a barrier.
I’d love to learn from you: If you’re from, have lived in, or have traveled through any of these countries, share a memory, a moment, or something you wish others knew. And if you’re new here, stay tuned, the next flight lifts off soon.
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.***
