This gallery contains 16 photos.
Today we left Takayama; the next destination being the cultural highlight of Kyoto In the afternoon we made it to the Fushima Inari Shrine; it took time to explore the shrine. After which we returned back to the center of … Continue reading
This gallery contains 20 photos.
Today started with a traditional Japanese breakfast – complete with traditional clothing. After breakfast we left for a walk around town … on another rainy day. We kicked it off with the “Festival of Floats” Museum, followed by a visit … Continue reading
Shin-kansen, the legendary Japanese high-speed train – known as bullet train in the US, standard speed of 300 km/h – and one of our main means of transport – below some impressions.
Also worth a mention: bento boxes … probably one of the quickest, cheapest and best ways to learn about local specialties in Japan. Bento boxes are virtually sold in all bigger train stations in Japan; they usually contain some local specialties, are conveniently packaged and comparably cheap (usually 800 to 1300 Yen or 5 to 8 Euros) – the perfect meal for a train trip. I had plenty of them … which finally gave me the nickname Bento Boy.
This gallery contains 4 photos.
Today we left Tokyo behind and proceeded into the Japanese Alps and the traditional town of Takayama and our first ryokan and onsen experience. The experience also included a traditional dinner: hida beef, grilled on a Magnolia leaf.
This gallery contains 20 photos.
We started this morning with a tour of Asakusa, after which we took the subway and train over to the main station (“Tokyo”). While Luke managed the railpass validation, we had the opportunity to walk down to the Imperial Palace … Continue reading
I made it into Tokyo on rainy morning after a total of 14 hours in the air (and some time at LHR airport).
As usual (I guess, I may use ‘as usual’ meanwhile) I checked in to the hotel, took a shower and then started discovering the surrounding area – in this case the Asakusa area of Tokyo, including the Senso-Ji temple.
In the evening the group came together for an initial group meeting. Luke – our tour leader gave the usual plus some Japan specific pieces of information, afterward he took us to a very Japanese restaurant … one, where the main interaction was through vending machine.
Today was the last night of the tour – we ended up in a restaurant around the corner of the hotel. After dinner we went to what turned out to be the most expensive, most scenic – yet best cocktail of the whole trip. We had that one in the rooftop bar of the Banyon Tree Hotel – on the 62nd floor. An amazing way to say good-bye to Thailand.
Today we were heading out for Erawan Falls, which included the opportunity for having a swim in and under the (second level of the)waterfall.
From Ayutthaya we continued to Kanchanaburi – home of the (in-)famous bridge over the river Kwai.
We did a short tour, visiting the JEATH War Museum, as well as the war cemetery – to arrive at the bridge just in time for the sunset. Samlors (bike rickshaws) were our transportation of choice for this tour – including a quick try by ourselves.
This gallery contains 12 photos.
We now had a two day trip on a rice barge ahead of us. We boarded the rice barge in the early afternoon of the 12th and left Ayutthaya by boat – slowly moving down (or even up?) the river, … Continue reading