As part of our preparations for an upcoming Cambodia trip, we had filled in our e-visa applications online. E-visas are a great way to save time on entry and certainly beat the old system of having to mail in your passport and wait or go and wait in line at the embassy. Hurray for technology, but […]
Kyoto is a city with a long, rich history dating back to the 8th century. It was Japan’s imperial capital for over a thousand years, from 794 until 1868 when the emperor moved to Edo, now Tokyo. There is so much to see and experience that it would be impossible to see it all in only […]
Our foodie experience in Japan may be quite mild compared to what some diehard foodies might have tried, but we sampled so many different things that we felt it was worth a separate foodie article to describe some of these. With Japanese menus and sometimes English menus only having pictures. We did eat some things […]
Osaka is the third largest city in Japan with a population of almost 2.6 million. It’s a vibrant modern city with a buzzing nightlife and plenty of attractions: historical landmarks, parks, museums, theatres—there is something for everyone…
Lets start by saying that Japan has an excellent train system that’s fast, clean, efficient and reasonably priced. Train travel in Japan is by far the easiest and most efficient way to get around. The train is so popular that an apartment can cost twice the price if it is within 10 minutes of a […]
Tokyo is a great destination any time of the year but it really comes alive at the end of March and the beginning of April when the cherry blossom trees are blooming. It is a popular time as it’s also spring break for the students in Japan so be sure to book early as even […]
When we first started planning our Japan visit, it seemed overwhelming. So many places to see, the crowds, all the names being foreign: how would we manage? As things came along, we found that it all fell into place and Japan was actually very tourist friendly and logically laid out. In retrospect, the few organized […]
China was my first culture shock trip—nothing was like anything I had ever seen before. This was probably the first time I really felt like I was surrounded by strange language, different customs, and perhaps truly traveling. Twenty years ago locals got around by bicycle and bike lanes made up two thirds of the major roads. […]
I have to admit that I was a bit concerned about what I would eat in India. I’m not a fan of curry, to be honest I really don’t like it. I had assumed that it would be part of most dishes. I was so wrong! The flavors, textures and colors are so varied; there is […]
India is a place of contradictions, a land of haves and have-nots. There is so much disparity and so many extremes. From people sleeping in $500 per night hotel rooms to people who won’t make that in a year. As we discussed this with our guide, he pointed out many memorable examples: