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Asia

Dinner in a Japanese Home

By Jan Robinson 28 Comments

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Because Japanese homes are so intimate in size, entertaining traditionally takes place at a restaurant or bar. Therefore we were surprised and pleased to be invited for dinner at in a Japanese Home, the home of our friend’s mother, in a prefecture close to Kyoto. Our hosts seemed as excited for us to be in …

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Things to do in Luang Prabang Laos – When Why How and What

By Jan Robinson 26 Comments

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Asia is a fascinating and at times chaotic continent to visit. It often feels necessary to take a step back from the noise and crowds and find somewhere peaceful to reflect on the travel experience and rejuvenate your soul. A place where you can sit by a mighty slow river, sip a mighty long drink …

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Budget Kyoto and The Bamboo Forest at Arashiyama

By Jan Robinson 30 Comments

This post may contain compensated links. We may earn a small percentage if you book through a compensated link, but it won’t cost you any more by doing so. You can read our full disclaimer here.

The best things in life and travel are free. Marty and I are not averse to spending money on experiences and there are plenty of ways to do so Kyoto, but there are many budget options as well. Shrines are free to visit – even the amazing Orange Torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha and provide an …

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Lines of Japanese Lanterns at Nara Japan

By Jan Robinson 20 Comments

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You might think that spending two weeks in a country is not long to absorb the culture, but it was long enough for us to realise that Japanese people like all things precise – like the lines of Japanese Lanterns at Nara Japan.  This love of precision extends to temple trees that receive delicately manicures …

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Deer and Daibutsu self guided Nara Walk

By Jan Robinson 29 Comments

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Nara is a pretty town not far from both Kyoto and Osaka. It is knows as the first permanent capital of Japan and today is a beautiful town full of historic lanterns, fabulous temples and a great place to take a self guided Nara Walk. History of Nara When Japan came under imperial control way …

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Hozugawa River at Arashiyama Kyoto

By Jan Robinson 23 Comments

This post may contain compensated links. We may earn a small percentage if you book through a compensated link, but it won’t cost you any more by doing so. You can read our full disclaimer here.

Arriving by train we followed the flow of people to a vast marshalling area beside the river.  While the area was practically empty in mid-November the thought of it overflowing with people was incredible. Arashiyama at the base of the Arashiyama mountains in Western Kyoto is well known for it’s rather small but impressive bamboo forest. However it is the …

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Looking Through the Chu-mon Gate at Ninna-Ji

By Jan Robinson 21 Comments

This post may contain compensated links. We may earn a small percentage if you book through a compensated link, but it won’t cost you any more by doing so. You can read our full disclaimer here.

Having spent time at the Goten complex at Laid Back Ninna-Ji, a mellower version of myself emerged to peer through the Chu-mon Gate at Ninna-Ji Temple in Western Kyoto.  Ninna ji is well known for it’s late flowering cherry blossom trees. Ninna-ji History Ninna ji is the head temple for the Shingon Sect of Japanese …

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Ninna-Ji the laid back temple of Kyoto

By Jan Robinson 25 Comments

This post may contain compensated links. We may earn a small percentage if you book through a compensated link, but it won’t cost you any more by doing so. You can read our full disclaimer here.

UPDATED MARCH 2018. As we walked from Keifuku’s Omuro-Ninnaji Station my eyes were drawn to the impressive gates of Ninna-Ji Temple Kyoto. This was our first visit to a Japanese Temple and I was excited to see what could possibly be behind this huge gate in the temple viewing district of Western Kyoto. They are …

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