Xi’An is one of the most historic cities in China. The downtown core is a UNESCO world heritage site thanks to the giant ancient wall that stands as a reminder of the Empires that rose and fell beneath them. From the Qin Dynasty’s capital in Xianyang where China was first Read more…
Visiting Montreal during the Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend was going to be a wild ride, and not only because of the mechanical bull at Chez PKs, but the crowds of people enjoying the Old Montreal district, the Notre-Dame Basilica, and climbing to the top of Mont Royal. Between all Read more…
One of the biggest differences travelers learn between the time we spend on the road and at home is the appreciation publicly funded parks, monuments and museums. At home, we complain our taxes are too high and our public services too few. But in a foreign country we love the Read more…
The Atom Bomb. Mankind’s most destructive creation. The result of an arms race against the Germans and the last weapon used to defeat the Japanese in World War 2. Two atom bombs: Little Boy and Fat Man were developed by a team of scientists from Europe and North America. This Read more…
Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park opened April 1st 1954. It stands as a reminder of the first nuclear weapon attack, an attack on innocent civilians, children and an entire city. Today, threats of using nuclear weapons are being made on Twitter by World Leaders who were born after the destruction of Read more…
Hiroshima Castle is a beautiful 5 story museum with a viewing platform at the top overlooking all of downtown Hiroshima City. Surrounded by a large moat and ruins left over from the Castle’s destruction in the Atomic Bomb blast of 1945, the rebuilt Castle stands as a sign of strength Read more…
Yabusame (流鏑馬) is a type of horseback archery that was commonly practiced by Samurai in ancient feudal Japan. Today, Yabusame is used in traditional rituals to bestow blessings upon the people and appease the Shinto Gods. The ritual involves shooting three targets, however it was originally developed as practice for Read more…
Welcome to Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. Also known as the Shrine of 10,000 Torii 鳥居, located on Mt. Inari or “Inariyama” in Japanese. It’s an incredibly popular tourist destination in Kyoto and one of Japan’s most important Shinto Shrines. Bring your walking shoes, it’s a little bit of a climb! Fushimi Read more…
Ninna-ji Temple is one of the most spectacular and historic temples in Kyoto Japan. In a city with over 2000 temples, shrines, castles and palaces, Ninna-ji Temple has one particular unique feature: For almost 1000 years, the temple’s head priest often came from the imperial family lineage. Just a few Read more…
Day Trip to Uji, Kyoto Prefecture The following day after my trip to Nara, I set out early in the morning with a new friend from my hostel. Jenni had spent a year living in and exploring the old capital city and neighboring towns. For her this was a trip down Read more…