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Showing posts from April, 2014

Sakura drops

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The thing with sakura is that, it's fragile. Wind blows or rains, it will fall. And I can't capture the beautiful falling sakura on video or stills. Best to just enjoy the moment. Someone told me that the Japanese (or most men) are pretty fleeting like the sakura. They only love you for just that short moment (just like the blossoms which last a few weeks and only for once a year) but I replied that it's better to be a sakura tree than a non significant tree that is never admired at all. Funny how you can get poetic that way with something beautiful. And he laughed. The beautiful Mt Yoshino and it's jungle of sakura tree looking alot like cotton candy The gorgeous weeping sakura tree in the middle of Maruyama Park in Kyoto - illuminated for only a few weeks Kyoto Keage incline - old railtrack but oh so beautiful with cherry blossoms along the way Just another bridge at another waterways in Kyoto Kiyomizu-dera temple, Kyoto Hanami (picnic) at Maruya

My Europe and South America dates

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LATEST UPDATE: 16/06/2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe - 22 Countries   Turkey (Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus) 2-13 July *Greece (Athens, Santorini) 14-19 July +6 Albania (Berat, Tirana) 20-24 July Macedonia (Ohrid, Bitola, Skopje) 25-29 July Bulgaria (Sofia) 30 -2 Aug Romania (Bucharest, Transylvania/Poenari Castle/Sighisoara/Bran Castle) 3-9 Aug Serbia (Belgrade) and Montenegro (Podgorica, Kotor) 10-15 Aug Croatia (Dubrovnik) & Bosnia (Mostar) 16-23 Aug Croatia (Split, Parec) 24-30 Aug *Slovenia (pass through) 31 Aug +1 *Italy 2 Sept - 18 Sept +17 (2-Venice, 3- Venice/Milan, 4-Milan/La Spezia, 5- La Spezia, 6-La Spezia/Florence, 7-Florence, 8-Florence/Pisa, 9-Florence/Siena, 10-Florence-San Gimignano, 11-Florence/Sorrento 12-Sorrento/Pompeii, 13-Sorrento/Amalfi Coast, 14-Sorrento/Capri, 15-Sorrento/Rome, 16-Rome 17-Vatican City, 18-Rome) *Austria (Viena, Salzburg) 19-23 Sept +5 *Slo

Going to Hiroshima & Miyajima

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Funny enough, alot of people do not know what is there to do in Hiroshima and what's the point of it. Obviously they have never studied history, as the name has always been mentioned since I was a kid. It was an honor to be there and also to see one of the most famous landmark in Japan - the floating torii gate of Miyajima - Itsukushima shrine.

Global Warning

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I have recently learned to use the recording function on my satellite TV and some of the shows thats I tried were Fashion Police and of course the recent Tom Daley Goes Global - my friend seems to have an obsession with him but to me he is quite meh but then again twink is not really my thing and I have no patience with gays who claim to be bisexual and then gay after that. I suppose allowances should be given since he is still literally a kid. But truth to be told, he didn't HAVE to come out. But anyways.... The Guardian UK called it  "a poor excuse for a TV show"despite a ok premise for a travel show. If only. Well, I won't be harsh - after all I am not expecting Palin type of travel shows that will inspire you to do but rather looking forward to train wrecks and stupidity that you expect from Brits when they go abroad or to Asia. There are a couple of things to clear up: 1. Global in the title - I was just explaining to my sister that for alot of people, going

Memoirs of Kyoto and Uji

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It was in July last year that I booked tickets to Japan. And yes the cherry blossoms are worth everything. Don't get cheated by the earlier plum blossoms or anytime outside the sakura season. Spent nearly a week in the Kyoto region and never looked back. Can't believe that people only take a day trip over from Osaka to Kyoto. I would do a day trip to Osaka instead.

77 days 1 hour 51 minutes 25 seconds

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Till Istanbul and then who knows. Bought a way one ticket and not looking back. This shit just got real.

Breaking down Japan

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To quote unquote a colleague who has been there like 3 times but each time to experience different sides of Japan (cause thats the kind of traveler we are) - only those who have not been there will complain that Japan is expensive. So let's have a look Stuff you can't control* MAS return flight - 895 Kyoto Accommodation - 486.38 West Japan Rail Pass - 647.51 Osaka accommodation - 326.64 Hiroshima accommodation - 108.33 (discounts due to staying at their sister's hostels in Kyoto and Osaka) Haruka Limited Express (airport express) + icoca - 127.95 TOTAL:  2,591.81 Stuff that you can control* Train, buses and transport (not covered by Japan Rail Pass) - 283.72 Food - 597.93 Entrance fees for temples/etc - 78.40 Laundry & Towels - 14.10 TOTAL:   974.15 Stuff that you don't really need Kyoto Baum cake - 52.92 Mont Bell hat for future travek   - 72.11 B mobile Internet Access - 132.38 GU (clothes and such) - 84.12 Micro Fiber T

Why I wanna marry - Dr Chris Naunton

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No need to explain. He has beard, brain and loves history. Seriously, would you marry me? How do I find these lovely guys? Well for once, try stop watching E! for once and try educational channels and documentaries. Thats where you find some brains and these days, geeks are hot. Dr Chris Naunton has been a member of the Society's staff since 2001 and its Director since 2012. Chris is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Society’s affairs, ensuring 
that 
a 
long‐term 
strategy 
is 
in 
place 
and that 
 
its 
core 
purpose
 and 
values are 
 articulated and consistently 
applied 
across
 the 
organisation. In 2012 Chris presented the BBC documentary Flinders Petrie: ‘ The Man Who Discovered Egypt ’ and was recently the lead Egyptologist on a new investigation into the death and burial of Tutankhamun for a TV film which was broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK as ' Tutankhamun: The Mystery of the Burnt Mummy ' and globally under various other names during 2