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Kyoto
In Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan, there is a mix of cutting edge and ancient culture. Our first stop of the day was the Golden Pavilion, a zen Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf, one of the iconic sights of the country. It’s beautiful, and the grounds are crowded with tourists. Our next stop was much more serene, at the Daisen-in Zen Buddhist temple with a Zen rock garden and its representation of life. We were told of some of the basic tenets of zen, “ichi go ichi ie” meaning literally one moment, one meeting, or treasure every encounter because it will never recur. Or my personal interpretation, do…
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Miyajima and Kyoto
We took a train and ferry to Miyajima Island, home of the famous floating torii gate. At high tide the vermilion shrine gate appears to be floating. Although there was solid rain all day, it didn’t affect the beauty of the island and its mountains and forests. Deer wander though the town on the edge of the ocean looking for handouts. . “There are also monkeys here but they must have been hiding from the rain. We checked out the temple and its sake barrelsthen walked through the hills and koi ponds to the cable car. We rode it to the top of a mountain for views of the islands…
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Hiroshima
In Hiroshima, we saw sites related to the first atomic bomb dropped here by the US on August 6, 1945. The Atomic Dome is the preserved ruins of an office complex near the epicentre of the bomb strike. Reports vary, but maybe 60,000 people died instantly, another 60,000 in the next few months, and who knows how many died years later from cancers and other diseases linked to radiation exposure. The museum told the sad stories of those who were never found, those who survived for some time after their clothes had been burned on to their bodies, and those who died years later. One of those was Sadako Sakai,…
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Osaka and Koyasan
Arriving in Osaka, I was a little worried about getting to the hotel from the airport outside the city after reading that even the Japanese are confused by the signs and exits. It turned out to be easy with the help of the friendly and efficient workers. A train took me to Namba station, a major hub for trains and subways, then I walked to my hotel with explicit instructions from an Information Booth worker who spoke limited English. Love their customer service! My room was tiny but had a high tech toilet, it’s great. But tomorrow I will have to share the room. I saw no foreigners until I…
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Booked for Japan
I’m finally booked for Japan! After much debate with myself I have chosen a short trip called Japan Express with G Adventures. It’s 9 days from Osaka to Tokyo. It ends abruptly in Tokyo so I added two days there. Flights booked, then for the extra two nights the tour hotel is fully booked, so I have been searching for a place to stay. I’m finding cool looking hostels, with walls of beds, capsule hotels where you slide into your own little pod, ryokans which include an onsen which is a spa like bathing area (I think), hotels with the choice of smoking or non-smoking rooms, and an airbnb traditional…
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on to Antigua
We crossed the border back into Guatemala the next day. On the way we stopped at a small archaeological museum with massive full skeletons of a ancient whale, mammoth and giant sloth found in the area. We are now in a mountainous area with volcanoes, climbing up to 2000 m then down to 1500 m for Antigua. We must drive on the Transamerica highway that goes through big dirty and dangerous Guatemala City, with a few million people and constant traffic jams. The highway cuts through one of the worst parts of the city, barrios much like the favelas in Rio de Janeiro, built on the sides of mountains. Residents…
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Copan, Honduras
El Salvador is bordered by Honduras and Guatemala on the north. To get to Honduras, we first crossed a border into Guatemala, from there to Honduras. This border was much easier and quicker than the closest one taking us directly to Honduras. Semi trucks were lined up for miles before the border, drivers sleeping on the pavement. Everything in the trucks is checked for drugs but we got through quickly. We arrived in Copan, a pretty town conveniently located walking distance from major Mayan ruins. We went for dinner to a restaurant where the waitresses carry drinks and food on their heads. A few of us carried on to another…
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Suchitoto
In the morning most of my group went on a walking tour of the town but I skipped it so I could take advantage of the pool. After my first time in I noticed a strange looking bird circling the pool, dipping in for drinks. It then went to a corner of the building and hung itself up. It was a bat! I went back in the pool and it dive bombed me. I yelped and it flew off. Then I noticed a huge hawk flying to a nest nearby, then circling, ending up in a nearby tree. When it turned sideways I could see its long turkey like neck.…
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The road to Suchitoto
Breakfast with an omelet, pupusa the local specialty, and a huge coffee was $3. On the road, we stopped at a Mayan site with pyramid from 800 BC, stopped for a lake view, then visited Joya de Ceren, known as the Pompeii of the Americas. It’s a town covered by lava around the 7th century. There were some animal skeletons discovered but it seems the townspeople had enough warning to get out. The home of the shaman was the most interesting. At the site we saw a torogoz, the colourful national bird with amazing tail feathers. We arrived in Suchitoto to our gorgeous hotel with a pool! And view of…
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La Ruta de las Flores
Ahuachipan is the start of the route of flowers. We hopped on a chicken bus, so named because everything including chickens can be on them. Vendors selling everything from candies to headphones jump on and off the crowded buses. We visited three towns, checking out markets and churches.One bus was the best, the lady across from me was seated with two live chickens that she kept watered. I don’t think I had ever been on a chicken bus that actually had chickens! The last town was the prettiest, with cobbled streets and colourful murals painted on most buildings. Making it back to Ahuachipan, we ventured out to a pizza place.…