A walk down a meticulously clean and evenly graveled roadway, along an enclosed earthen wall, known as Tsuiji, led us to the Seishomon Gate, entrance into the grounds of the Imperial Palace. The enclosed earthen wall stretches some 450m north to south and 250m east to west around the palace. The total area of the […]
Golden Pavilion – Kinkaku-ju – Kyoto
September 10, 2013 by
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Golden Pavilion a Zen Buddhist temple I was really looking forward to see the Golden Pavilion. I had read about it before coming to Japan, hard to imagine a building covered in gold leaf. I was not disappointed when I saw this graceful pavilion. Our tour group followed a tree-lined pathway leading into a […]
Kosho-ji Temple Nagoya
September 5, 2013 by
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Kosho-ji is a Shingon Buddhist Temple in Yagoto, Nagoya, Central Japan This temple complex set in woodlands on Yogota Hill felt very peaceful and serene. A wonderful old, rustic, five tiered wooden pagoda, ageing gracefully, stands serenely among the other wooden buildings of the complex outlined against a perfect blue sky. The complex dates from […]
Tokugawa Shogun – Nijo Castle – Ninomaru Palace -Kyoto
August 31, 2013 by
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Arriving in Kyoto a new guide greeted us on the train platform and took us to our hotel, the Rihga Royal Hotel, our luggage already arrived and in situ. Our hotel room,very clean, comfortable, a good standard, staff very friendly and helpful, another really nice hotel. Great breakfasts with a choice of western or Japanese cuisine. Kyoto […]
Traditional Music – Gong Circle Chimes – Pich Nil Cambodia
August 19, 2013 by
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Traditional Music Team At one end of the spirit houses at Pich Nil mountain pass, a group of children sat playing traditional musical instruments, raising money for their Traditional Music Team. The music is pleasant to listen to. The instruments were equally interesting; having only ever seen a traditional xylophone or Roneat ek played at one of the temples, this is […]
‘Spirit Houses’ Pich Nil Mountain Pass
August 11, 2013 by
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Primary School visit Early morning start, our first stop is a visit to a primary school. The classroom for the younger children is nicely decorated, the youngsters in the next grade using slates and chalk (which is not a bad thing, think of the paper they save?) The teacher had the young children sing a […]
Golden Lions of Sihanoukville – Beach Resort Town
August 5, 2013 by
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Premier Beach resort town Sihanoukville is now considered Cambodia’s premier beach resort town. The town named after former King Sihanouk. The Golden Lions at the traffic circle represents the King and the royal family of Cambodia. New ‘Techo Morakot Bridge’ and beach resort. The tour bus took as for a quick look at a new bridge being […]
Highway to Sihanoukville Town – Deep Sea Port and Beach Resorts
July 28, 2013 by
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Highway route #4 – Fishing town along the riverbanks Today we travel from Kampot to Sihanoukville on Highway Route 4. Always an interesting trip in a foreign country with plenty of sights to see. At a bridge we stopped briefly to look at a fishing community along the river banks with brightly colored fishing […]
Paradise of Gold for an Artisan – Kanazawa
July 20, 2013 by
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‘Marsh of Gold’ paradise for an Artisan Gold is symbolic of the region. The name Kanazawa means ‘marsh of gold’ in Japanese. Believed to have originated from a legend about a peasant, Imohori Togoro who discovered gold dust as he was washing potatoes in a local marsh. Gold is found in Kanazawa and Ishikawa. This sacred […]
Beautiful Geisha – Tea House of the Geisha – Ochaya Shima
July 14, 2013 by
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1820 Higashi Kuruwa – a high-class eastern pleasure quarter After our visit to Nagamachi Samurai District we moved on to the Higashi Kuruwa, a high-class eastern pleasure quarter established by the Kaga Clan in 1820. Wealthy merchants and men of letters sought the upper circles of society and its pleasures. In particular the geisha performing the many Japanese […]