High Spots of the Far East

This travelogue begins in Canton, China, located on the shores of the Pearl River, on which many of residents live on houseboats. The Temple of the 500 Buddhas houses statues of many of the Buddha gods to who the people request favors, indicated by the burning of incense. The next stop is Bangkok, Siam. Although travel by railroad has replaced the traditional travel by elephant, the white elephant is still considered a sacred animal. Porcelain and gold towers and statues of guards dot the residential palace. The next stop is Cairo, Egypt, the largest city on the banks of the Nile River and a city filled with mosques, minarets and domes. Ancient ruins and the great pyramids can be found just outside of the city. The next stop is Madras, India, whose residents are better educated than the average Indian. The next stop is Calcutta, India, where a marble palace honors the late Queen Victoria. The grounds of another palace, home to one of the richest Indian princes, is open to the public to enjoy when he is not in residence. The final stop is the walled city of Delhi, India. The Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in the country. A new capital city for India is being constructed on the outskirts of the existing Delhi.