It's a cold, frosty day in Kingston, Ontario.  A proper start to a true Canadian winter.  

And, as much as I love the snow, especially when it is sunny, I am not a fan of windchill and extreme cold weather warnings.  I have spent my chilly Thursday inside, re-living memories of ten years of international travel and dreaming of new adventures. 

On my Instagram, I posted three photos to celebrate memories of travels past.  Here they are, complete with a current shot of the snow.  Scroll down for more information about the photos and why I posted them today.

Kingston, Ontario, Canada December 28th 

Currently -17 C with an extreme cold warning of -30 C or colder as the sun sets. 

Although, it doesn't look that uninviting with the brilliant blue sky, the crisp white snow, and the festival holiday decorations lining the street. 

And yes, I'm sure that there are many colder places in the world today.  Hopefully one day I'll have a chance to visit those places (with tons of proper protection and proper boots!!!).  

For today, I shall stay on the other side of the window pane.  Here are the three memories, all from warm weather countries....

Ubud, Bali August 2008.  This offering was left on the pathway to the rice field, just south of the Ubud main street.  Taken with a Canon point and shoot, I was impressed with how the digital camera could pick up the movement of the smoke.  I have always been attracted to the vibrant colours in the offerings and intrigued by their place in daily ritual and culture.  This picture brings me back to the tranquility and warmth of the island paradise.

A highway south west of Mexico City, March 2004.  This picture was taken the last Saturday of a month long teaching/travel adventure during my alternative practicum with a disposable camera (now those were the days...before cellphones and pocket photography).  I remember our guide talking about business men stopping and picking up flowers for their wives.  I don't know if that is true or not, but the romantic notion has stuck with me all of these years.  This picture does not give the colours justice.  It was truly a piece of heaven on the highway.  

Borobudur, Central Java Indonesia, August 2008.  Standing at the top of the 9th Century Mahayana Buddhist temple, in complete awe of the the size, the carvings, the lessons and knowledge, and the overwhelming sense of peace.  Words cannot probably express the overwhelming sense of awe being in the middle of this architectural work of wonder.  Click on the this link to find out more about this unique UNESCO Heritage Site.