Did you know that Japan has an Indigenous population? They are the Ainu. We visited Upopoy, the National Ainu Museum & Park, today. The Ainu people are the Indigenous people of Japan (specifically Hokkaido), and much like other Indigenous peoples, … Continue reading
If you ever head to Japan, you have to try staying at a ryokan. My experience is based on our stay at Kiriya Ryokan. Nestled in the hot spring village of Nozawa-Onsen, it was suggested to us by a ski-mad friend, and it’s … Continue reading
It's been a long time since I posted. Drove out of Lhasa on the 19th of July, saying a sad goodbye to our little base in Lhasa. Lhasa felt like home after 11 days of wandering through back streets, exploring shops, … Continue reading
Amongst all the relics in the Beijing National Museum, these are the ones that stand out for me. I wasn't able to go through the entire museum, I admit. I spent nearly 3 hours there and it still wasn't enough…. … Continue reading
In China, there’s an abundance of the swastika symbol. I think this presents a great opportunity to really delve into the history of this symbol, as it has only been tainted by nut-bags in the last 100 … Continue reading
The world's largest palace complex, "Gu Gong" (in Chinese) was started in 1407 and was completed 12 years later. It covers 74 hectares, surrounded by a moat, a 10-metre high wall, and consists of over 8700 rooms. It is like the biggest … Continue reading
I borrowed a book today, from the hotel library. I haven't read this since I was in year 10 (about 16 years old). From what I can remember, most of it is dominated by visions of the movie … Continue reading
Tibet. Blessed to be here. Very grateful to be in such a beautiful place, and to have time with someone I love. Staying in a fantastic hotel, with a knowledgable guide; it can't get much better than this to … Continue reading
Imagine a place where a fast-train travels at 300+ km/hr and takes you from the airport to the main metro stations in 7 minutes. A city where over 2 million people (or more?) a day travel on the subway and trains arrive … Continue reading
Shaped like a traditional Chinese cauldron (ting), the Shanghai Museum is located next to People's Park. We bought the audio guide in English and spent nearly 4 hours there which still didn't cover everything. The cost is pretty minimal – … Continue reading