Carcasses hanging in butcher shops, carts overflowing with produce, and small food stalls making fresh batches of deliciousness crowd the sidewalks. Meanwhile, a constant traffic jam of pedestrians, honking cars, beeping motorbikes, and zippy mopeds, flood the narrow streets where road rules don’t exist and everyone has the right of way. This organized chaos is […]Read Post ›
When you can’t move mountains, go climb one. I don’t know why but I have a thing for mountains in China – I have been atop two before and am always hungry for more. I think it’s the fact that they are ancient, and sagacious for having lived through so much history. Great Chinese poets, painters, […]Read Post ›
On our last day in Beijing, we were met with clear sunny blue skies, something very rare for the normally hazy capital city. We surmised that it was the windstorm from the previous night that must’ve cleared the smog out. We had been at the Olympic Park when the unexpected gusts of wind whipped about […]Read Post ›
First order of business in China: see something grand, if not great. There’s only one place in the whole world that can meet this requirement, none other than the Great Wall of China. I daresay that I’ve seen many amazing things during my travels (with so much more to discover!), but no other sight tops […]Read Post ›
Japan, it’s been real. But unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. I will miss all of Japan’s unique features, which is too many to name. This isn’t a complete list, but just a few things that come to mind when I look back on our experience here. • Old and New: One […]Read Post ›
My foray into Tokyo fashion has opened up the kimono for more street style photography – but this time for geisha style. Kyoto’s Gion district is world famous for their geisha (often referred to as geiko in Kyoto). Comprised of alleyways of traditional wooden townhouses, tea houses, restaurants, and bars, it is a place where […]Read Post ›
Just a short walk away from our ryokan in the Arashiyama district of Kyoto, the famed Sagano Bamboo Forest was definitely a highlight of our trip. It is here that one can find a sense of serenity, giving new meaning to the saying, “Find your happy place.” The natural beauty of the bamboo brings about […]Read Post ›
I stood in the middle of the suspension bridge alone, enjoying my moment of peace and serenity early in the morning. Closing my eyes, I felt the subltle warmth on my back from the sun that had just barely peered out from behind the rain clouds. The sound of the rumbling Shokawa River enveloped me, […]Read Post ›
The only attraction in Nara bigger the giant Buddha are the deer. Once the capital of Japan, Nara continues to be a popular place visited by international tourists and locals alike. It has several UNESCO World Heritage sites, and is home to a huge deer population. UNESCO World Heritage sites I am familiar with, and […]Read Post ›
We arrived in Osaka on a cold rainy afternoon. The wet weather conditions drenched our clothes and even our spirits that day, but for other tourists? Not so! Even gloomy grey skies couldn’t chase the dozen or so tour busses away. Luckily Simon and I were able to stroll the popular Dotonbori Street the next […]Read Post ›
away we roam 