Having visited London many times, and taken in many of the local sights, I set a goal to get outside of the city and see some of the countryside and the other wonderful and beautiful places that make England so special. So, since I still won’t attempt to drive a vehicle on the “wrong” side of the road I booked…
July 14: London, the beginning of the 2nd leg
For those who are actually following along on this journey with me, you will have noticed a break, with my last entry being May 29 and a summary of the experience in Japan. I traveled to Maui from Tokyo and didn’t feel that there was much to offer from poolside so I left the blog until I had some travel…
May 29: Final day in Japan — Fuji appears and some musings
When I peaked out the window of our room this morning I was delighted to see Mt. Fuji clearly outlined against the blue sky. We had caught a bit of a glimpse during dinner last night, and the sky turned orange and yellow and pink around the peak of the mountain. But the view this morning literally would take your…
May 28: Hakone
I must count us as very lucky to have had Mt Fuji in view yesterday, given it’s notorious elusiveness. Today was cloudy most all day, so not even a quick glimpse of the sacred mountain was seen. A potent symbol of Japan, and all things Japanese, it is the highest summit in the country at 12,388ft, and has been revered…
May 27: Hiroshima to Hakone
A very long travel day to get from here to there. We are heading back towards Tokyo, in anticipation of our flights home in a few days, so had to traverse much of Japan today. The first train, from Hiroshima to Shin-Osaka was 90 minutes long and since we hadn’t reserved a seat, we had to stand most of the…
May 26: Miyajima
Just 25 minutes away from the city center of Hiroshima lies an island just offshore that is a sacred Shito site since ancient times. With a surface area of 11.6 sq miles, it is forbidden either to be born or to die there, so there is no maternity hospital or cemetery on the island. Named an UNESCO World Heritage Site,…
May 25: Hiroshima
I’m not sure where or how to start this post. The very name of this place forces one to consider, remember, react, wonder at the actions of men in wartime and grieve for it all. It is impossible to remain indifferent after a visit here. On August 6, 1945 at 8:15AM, the Enola Gay dropped “little boy”, the first atomic bomb,…
May 24: Kyoto to Hiroshima
Our last morning in Kyoto and we had arranged to see a traditional Japanese show, with what we had thought would be dancing Geisha. Located close by, but on it’s last day for the season, I had booked online through a booking agent, and there was some confusion about whether the tickets were actually purchased on our behalf or not.…
May 23: Himeji Castle and the Golden Pavilion
Another day trip out of Kyoto about 100 miles to Himeji to see the Castle there. Known as the White Heron Castle (as an opposite to the black castle in Masumoto), it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and well worth the hour on the bullet train to get there. It is called the heron castle because its graceful outlines and…
May 22: Nara
Another day away from the city center, just about an hour outside of Kyoto. Formerly Heijokyo, it was established at the end of the Silk Road and was Japan’s first permanent capitol, from 710-784. This time marked the beginning of a strong, centralized state, a catalyst for the growth of a national identity. Buddhism, an import from China and Korea,…