Japan thus far... continued part 3

The following images are from my walking of Kyoto.

On nearly every street corner is a vending machine. My favorite remains the milk tea, cold. You can get a wide variety of beverages, although not Coca Cola. This is a nice change.

I guess someone made a thousand small cranes, at least that would be my guess. This was left as a gift at a shrine.

Near every shrine is one of these. I overheard a guide explain that you fill the little cups, wash left hand, right hand, rinse mouth, and then use the rest to pour down the spoon for the next person.

I just like how this photo gives the illusion of the fish swimming in mid air past the clouds. I wish I had taken a few additional shots, I would have if I knew it would come out this way.

Japan thus far... continued part 2

A beautiful sky line from one of the temples. The clouds here are surreal.

In one of the parks, there are deer which roam freely. They are protected. We, are not protected and are at their mercy. There are signs all over the place reminding visitors that they are animals, and not to be ignorant around them.

The Japanese do love lanterns.

My favorite part about Japan thus far is the biking. Everyone seems to bike everywhere, and no one must steal bikes. No one locks them up, they just leave them, go do whatever they are doing, come back, and ride away.

Japan thus Far

I arrived in Japan in the early evening, stowed my suitcase, at the airport and headed to a nearby city. Nara seemed like a good choice, it didn't sound touristy (as in, I had never heard of it - though I should have as it was the original capital of Japan). I arrived to find a suburban type city, with a few large and beautiful temples. However, my favorite thing was my introduction to the Japanese toilet. These amazing machines, pictured above, have an entire control console. It's especially fun because it's all in Japanese, I have no idea what is going to happen when I push a button. After a day of exploration, I catch a train direct to Kyoto where I have arranged to stay in a unique hotel, modeled after my personal favorite place to be: an airplane. First Cabin means that each room has a curtain, and a TV. I think it's more like a hospital than an airplane. Upon arriving, I decided to shorten my stay by a day. After a night of no sleep (I think the guy in the next berth has pneumonia - either way, he snores like a rhinocerous - and stayed up all night snoring and hacking away) I decided to shorten it by an additional day.

The five level pagoda in Nara.

Me, in front of a temple, the name of which, currently escapes me.

The temple of which the name currently escapes me.

Going in for surgery?

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My first big japanese temple

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A few photos from Boracay

A private little island
No trip is complete without good company, and I had the best.






























Sadly, all things come to an end, and I had to leave eventually.

It all must end eventually, without separation, it wouldn't be that special anyway.

What happened and why am I back in Hong Kong

After Callie left the Philippines, it was just me, and no place to stay.  I looked around, and eventually found a cheaper place away from the beach called Private Mountain Casitas.  These beautiful little huts sat up on the Bulabog mountain on the other side of the island from the white sand beach.  It meant a taxi whenever I went out, and a walk up to the cabin, but the were relaxing, and secluded, and I only came and went once for dinner.

I left early the morning of the 4th for the airport after hearing about Jon's experience arriving early only to find the plane decided to leave early as well.  I was a little too early, so I hopped on an earlier flight, and headed into Manila.  At the airport I was almost finished checking in when they asked for my visa paperwork.  I had been told by American Express Concierge that I wouldn't need a visa for less than ten days (I had requested that they look into this).

The woman at the counter called the Vietnam embassy, and suggested I run over to pick it up.  She told me that it had been arranged, I just needed to go in person.  I took a cab all the way across Manila where a surly official at the embassy told me essentially to screw off, he wasn't planning to do anything until Friday at the earliest, and I had interrupted his lunch. 

Dejected, I caught a return cab (which was half the price, though for a 40 minute cab ride, 4 dollars or two dollars is rather inconsequential.  At the airport I requested to use my ticket for standby for the next flight back to Hong Kong since I was barred from flying to Vietnam.  I was told it was no longer good, and had to purchase a new one way ticket to Hong Kong.

I arrived in Hong Kong under the false pretense that I could fly standby to Osaka, I had confirmed this with both the airline that I was flying, the airline whose ticket I had, and American Express.  Again, all three after reviewing fare rules, confirmed that would not be a problem.  All three were mistaken. I was given the option of 7 days in the airport here, or pay a fee.  I chose to leave, and am schedule for a 1:15PM to Taipei, then onward to Osaka.  Last night, I decided to sleep in the airport, which meant that I woke up exhausted.  It means less money on hotels is more money I can spend exploring Japan.

I will come back and see Vietnam.  I am frustrated it won't be this trip, I had my mind set on it, but Japan should be spectacular.

Back in hong kong

Circumstances have returned me to Hong Kong, after a wild goose chase in Manila and the necessity of a ticket purchase here (or be stuck in Manila for five days, which I was advised against) I am back. At least the cost of my locker storage will be less since I returned sooner. Hopefully Cathay can put me on the next flight out.
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Waiting for my trike to the port

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And breakfast arrives

Flying in a bit.
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Breakfast in thr tropics

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Deposit your firearms and submit your bags/packages for inspection

The philippines. Didn't realize everyone here was packing heat!
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