Easy Rider…Well, Sort Of
As we arrive at the train station in Bangkok we’re unsure of what to expect. People sit in the middle of the station on the floor waiting to board their train. It’s a scene we’ve seen before, though here it all seems downright neat and orderly. There are also lots of Western tourists. We’ve booked […]
Wat’s Your Pleasure?
Bangkok was a surprise. Maybe it has do do with the neighborhood we stayed in, or the activities we chose, but we didn’t find the chaos or danger we’d heard so much about. Yes, the tuk tuks whiz up and down, weaving precariously through heavy traffic. Yes there are scams to watch out for. Unscrupulous […]
Rest for Royalty and a Place to Pray
Located northwest of the center of town, the Summer Palace was a retreat for royalty trying to get away from Beijing’s stifling summer heat. It began as imperial gardens, and was developed and expanded by Emporer Qianlong in the 18th century. Later, it was damaged in several wars, rebuilt, renovated and made into the huge […]
Naksan Temple
The sometimes lush and green, sometimes bare and craggy Taebek Mountains meet the pounding Eastern Sea in South Korea’s northeastern Gangwon Province. To the north is North Korea, to which originally part of the region originally belonged. (Kim Il Sung’s former villa is nearby). Seoul is a few hours southwest by bus, and everything east […]
Kyoto Yes, Kyoto Noh
An early start helped us beat the crowds to a special spot called Fushimi Inari. The shrines were originally dedicated to the gods of rice and sake, and later expanded to include prosperity in business. Along with a number of pretty shrines and countless statues of foxes (messenger of Inari), the area provides a peaceful […]
Temples Temples Everywhere
Kyoto is Japan’s ancient capital. There is much to see and do: it’s got historical, cultural, natural, culinary, and modern treasures around every corner, and it can be totally overwhelming. We tried to choose a few must-sees and a few less-visited spots and squeeze in what we could in the time we had here. To […]
Nagasaki: The Bell Rings at 11:02
Nagasaki Peace Memorial A morning train ride brought us up to the north part of Nagasaki. We first entered the Peace Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims, which has a circular, outdoor walk to clear your mind before entering. We both knew today was going to be heavy but there is no real understanding until […]
Kamakura
Kamakura was the capital of Japan from 1185 to 1333. It was a time of great battles and feuds, but eventually a leader called Yoritomo set up his base at Kamakura, near those loyal to the Minamoto clan. The base remained a center of power for this shogun and his heirs until it was weakened […]