That is one of the all time great travel posts I have every read. Stunning is really the only word.
I love your elephant buddy, and I'm glad he remembers you. I just love the pictures and descriptions of the temples and grounds. When I saw your title I thought of "Islands in the Sky" the indigenous name for the White Mountains here in Arizona.
Thank you Stewsak. Wonderful post. Now about those pushups....
Tom, did you really have to remind me about those pushups today? LOL. Those 30 block I promised the monk may take 3 days just as long as I cross the finish line block by block. White Mountain! I still have family in AZ and spent my adolescence catching gila monsters and battling rattlesnakes with my bare hands in the Mohave Desert. Just kidding about the bare hands, LOL. But Eastern AZ is an area, I'm going to tackle sooner than later :) Thanks for the inspiring & motivating words my friend and have a splendid weekend.