Naoshima Part 1 May 2018
I have wanted to visit the art island Naoshima for many years already and finally this year I was organized enough to book the only proper hotel on the island over 5 months ahead. Naoshima is an island located in the Seto Inland Sea of Japan. The island used to be just a Mitsubishi metals … Continue reading Naoshima Part 1 May 2018
Kyoto: Otagi Nenbutsu-ji May 2018
Otagi Nenbutsu Temple outside of Arashiyama houses a collection of 1,200 whimsical statues representing the disciples of Buddha called rakans. Kocho Nishimura, the head priest of the temple in 1955, who was also a master sculptor decided to instruct devotees to carve their own statues. Since these stone rakans were carved by amateurs, each statue … Continue reading Kyoto: Otagi Nenbutsu-ji May 2018
Kyoto: Bamboo Forest & Gion May 2018
Sagano Bamboo Forest at Arashiyama is another highlight in Kyoto not to be missed. It is an easy train ride from Kyoto Station to Saga Arashiyama Station on the JR Sagano Line and then about a 10-minute walk. This bamboo grove is one of the most photographed places in Kyoto. These bamboo forest paths are … Continue reading Kyoto: Bamboo Forest & Gion May 2018
Saihoji Moss Temple May 2018
Going with the flow and just winging it when visiting new places is fun but more and more often now advance planning is required in order to visit the more obscure places. For example, over a year ahead for the Great Migration in Africa, 4-6 months ahead for the Galapagos, 4 months ahead for places … Continue reading Saihoji Moss Temple May 2018
Tiger’s Nest Bhutan Apr 2018
Taktshang Goemba, or more commonly known as the Tiger’s Nest, is one of Bhutan’s most revered and most photographed monuments. It is built on a sheer 1,000 meter cliff face. The people of Bhutan believe that Guru Rinpoche, the father of Bhutanese Buddhism, landed here on the back of a tigress and meditated in the … Continue reading Tiger’s Nest Bhutan Apr 2018
Paro Apr 2018
From Punakha, the road led us back to the Dochula Pass and then the Wang Chu and Paro Chu river valleys before arriving at our lodge in Paro. En route we visited the 17th century Simtokha Dzong about 5 km outside of Thimphu. Simtokha Dzong was built in 1629 by the great lama Zhabdrung Ngawang … Continue reading Paro Apr 2018
Punakha Apr 2018
We left Thimphu early in the morning heading over the 3,050-meter mountain pass of Dochula towards Punakha. There are 108 memorial chortens here known as “Druk Wangyai Chortens” built by Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, the eldest Queen Mother. They were built in memory of the soldiers who died in the December 2003 battle against the … Continue reading Punakha Apr 2018
