From the nomadic steppes of Kazakhstan to the frenetic streets of Hanoi, Asia is a continent so full of intrigue, adventure, solace, and spirituality that it has fixated and confounded travelers for centuries.
Have you ever had a childhood memory come to life? That happened to me today. I remember a movie in the 90’s “Mr. Baseball” about a professional baseball player sent to Japan to play staring Tom Selleck. I remember from the movies the fans in the stands playing their trumpets, shouting in unison and the various concession workers walking around...
Spent time visiting the Peace Memorial Park and walking through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. No matter where you are in this park, there is a somber feel that washes over you. This was especially true walking through the museum reading stories and watching videos of those impacted as well as the stories of the long term effects the bombing had on the...
I started with a quick train ride from Kyoto to Hiroshima and ended 32k steps later. First up was a hike up to the Mount Misen Observatory on Itsukushima. This hike made the hike in Yamadera seem short. The observatory at the top paid huge dividends as it offered a panoramic view of Hiroshima Bay. After hiking back down and taking the ferry back to the mainland, I...
Today started with a trip out to Nara to visit the Tōdai-ji Temple which was home to a giant bronze Buddha statue. The path to visit the Buddha is treacherous as you must dodge the deer who make the grounds their home and follow you looking for food. Luckily I indulged them with some snacks which, apart from one overly aggressive deer, was a fun experience. To avoid...