The Sacred and the Ordinary

A journey to Asia’s storied destinations and a thought-provoking look at the spirituality that has shaped many parts of this region and its ways of life today. This illustrated edition includes evocative images taken by photographers from Asia.

From Bhutan and the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayas to Varanasi, the holiest of Hindu cities on the banks of the Ganges; walking the grounds of Bodh Gaya and Sarnath, the birthplaces of Buddhism in India; exploring Sri Lanka’s glorious past amidst the remains of its ancient cities; reflecting on the transitory nature of life in Kyoto’s Zen temple gardens; looking at the multi-layered cultural aspects of life in Bali, Central Java, and Luang Prabang, Marie Martel finds that the legacy of a historic and spiritual past is embedded in everyday life.

Where the sacred and the ordinary are intertwined, discover the power of faith, hope, and the human spirit. In these pages, Asia comes to life from the perspective of its age-old spiritual traditions that still serve as a beacon of light for people in this region and beyond.

Editorial Review

“In this illustrated work, Martel travels to a wide variety of cities and towns in Asia in order to experience the local and spiritual realities on the ground.... Through all of this well-trod ground..., Martel employs a clear, very effective narrative line. At the beginning of the volume, which features vivid color photographs by Thinley, Rawal, Mulyajaya, Sherchan, Xiong, and Meer, she describes herself as open to all of the various spiritual experiences .... This openness will be very inviting to readers who haven't visited the East. The author has also read a wide range of literature about the places she toured, and her pages are filled with valuable book recommendations.

A brightly illustrated and involving travel account that focuses on Asia.” — Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Marie Annette Martel was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marymount Manhattan College in New York and a Master of Arts degree from New York University. She has written articles on the arts, culture, travel, and social issues for over two decades for the Philippine Star, a leading digital and print newspaper of the Philippines. She served as a speechwriter for the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines and as special assistant to the Office of the Presidential Spokesman during the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. Her first book, Between East and West, was published by Anvil Publishing in the Philippines in 2007.