Man Mo Temple – Hong Kong
Hong Kong Island’s oldest and most important temple dates back to the 1840s. Despite being firmly on the tourist trail, the atmosphere is always tranquil and the temple is often deserted.
Built under British rule, this bat-winged temple guarded by cauldrons and dog-lions is named after two principal deities: Man, the god of literature, who is dressed in red and holds a calligraphy brush; and Mo, the god of war, wearing a green robe and holding a sword.
Giant incense coils hang from the ceiling imparting a fragrant, smoky haze which enhances the stillness and permeate your clothing to remind you of your visit long after you’ve rotated back to the melee of Hong Kong.
Postman’s Park – City of London
The verdant brainchild of Victorian painter and philanthropist, George Watts, Postman’s Park is a small but welcome patch of public green space in the City of London. It’s squeezed into a plot north of St Paul’s Catherdral between King Edward Street, Little Britain and St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
The park acquired its name – not surprisingly – due to the patronage of workers from the nearby old General Post Office. Watt’s was an ardent supporter of London’s working classes and extraordinary ordinary folk. A public memorial here celebrates heroes from another age cast in Doulton ceramic tiles who would otherwise be long forgotten.
St. Luke’s in the Fields – NYC
In the unholy hubbub of New York, there’s still on place at the heart of the city that’s guaranteed to re-charge even the flattest batteries. Behind The Church of Saint Luke in the Fields deep in Greenwich Village – at the intersection of Hudson Street and Grove Street – lies a labyrinthine of garden paths, grass, and deep borders to lose yourself. Relax on one of the benches here and contemplate the serenity of this magical place in the eye of the surrounding maelstrom.
