With Kyoto’s 1600 Buddhist temples, and 400 Shinto shrines to choose from, the choice of where to visit seemed overwhelming. After some research, we narrowed our visit down to just a few standouts. Kinkaku-ji Small, but certainly not lacking in opulence is Kinkaju-ji, the temple on the water, painted entirely in brilliant gold. A second … More Which Temples to Visit in Kyoto? A List of Some Favourites
Kyoto’s eye-catching bamboo forest is called Arashiyama, and you’ve probably seen photos of it before. The forest is dense and tall, and wandering through it is a lovely, elemental experience, feeling completely enveloped by these hollow giants.
Kyoto is not really a busting supercity like Tokyo or Osaka. While there still are high rises and department stores, Kyoto is best known for its cultural treasures. Think of it as a place of culture; traditional houses, geishas in elegant kimonos, and amazing food. All these things are celebrated in a city that has … More Kyoto for First Timer Visitors
The Ueno area is known or its large, beautiful park. It has some of the most beautiful green areas and temples in Tokyo city (better, I thought, than the Imperial Palace). But outside of cherry blossom, and in the cold days of winter, what is there to do? Toshogu shrine and Kiyomuzi Kannon are year … More Walking Ueno Park in the Winter
Shinjuku is Tokyo big city life all rolled up into one lively ward. Shopping, eating, drinking, flashing neon signs, giant crowds in suits; it’s all here, right next to the world’s busiest train station. Shinjuku is a big economic hub in Tokyo, and a wonderful jumping off point into the neon-lit megacity madness that many … More Must-See Shinjuku For First-Time Visitors
The beach was at the bottom of the cliff, and inside a cave. At low tide, Suluban Beach at Blue Point in south Bali can be an amazing place to see some coral reefs.
An Irishman named Neil boarded the minibus, already drinking at 9am, with a clinking plastic bag bulging with Chang beer bottles, and a toothy grin on his face.
Stone sentinels stood on guard, their watch lasting nearly a thousand years. They growled with fierce monkey heads, armed with swords, helmeted and armoured in stone scales. Apsara, Angkor dancers, added their watch over the temples.
It’s not very often you feel like you’ve stepped into a new world. Myanmar is the official name for the country most people know as Burma. This isolated place secretly hugs the shoulder of Thailand, touches the eastern point of India. In a region dominated by sunny Thai resorts, Vietnamese food and Singaporean skyscrapers, this … More Visiting Myanmar in 2012, newly opened to the world
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