I like travelling alone. That way, I've only got one idiot to worry about.
Let’s skip ahead a day and recount my family’s trip to Japan’s ancient capital on a glorious Saturday morning, with the sun high in the sky and the hills ablaze with the fiery colours of autumn.
Continue reading “Field Report: Kyōto, Japan (22 November 2014) – Part 1/3”
After our relaxing daytime visit to the historic city of Uji, my parents were happy to retreat into the comfort of our Ōsaka hotel and prepare to turn in for the night. As far as I was concerned, however, the day was far from spent … so I dashed off on my own to Kyōto for a special evening light-up that only takes place when the city’s trees are enrobed in their autumn majesty.
Continue reading “Field Report: Kyōto, Japan (20 November 2014)”
…exsúltent divína mystéria: et pro tanti Regis victória, tuba ínsonet salutáris.
Diego wishes you, your family, and all your loved ones a very happy Easter.
I’ve still got a massive backlog of unblogged trips to go through, but no worries: we’ll get back on track with those over the next few weeks. For now, let’s have another flight report – this one covering a round-trip journey on AirAsia Zest (Z2) between Manila (MNL) and Seoul-Incheon (ICN).
Continue reading “Flight Report: MNL-ICN-MNL on Z2 884 and Z2 85”
Before continuing with my usual field reports, let’s jump ahead and review some flights that I’ve taken recently. First on the table is the latest experience: a round-trip journey on Philippine Airlines (PR) between Manila (MNL) and Fukuoka (FUK).
Continue reading “Flight Report: MNL-FUK-MNL on PR 426 and PR 425”
The ancient town of Uji in Kyōto Prefecture is known far and wide for its tea. It should come as no surprise that, over the course of its centuries-old love affair with this soothing gift of the bush, some of the leaves harvested hereabouts began to end up in places other than your typical bowl of hand-whisked matcha.
Like your not-so-typical bowl of piping-hot noodles, for example.
Continue reading “Food Report: Nakamura Tōkichi Honten (Uji, Japan)”
Fresh from my Taiwan trip last November, I barely had time to empty out my bags before I needed to pack them again – this time for a relaxing autumn family trip to Japan’s Kansai region.
Continue reading “Field Report: Uji, Japan (20 November 2014)”
Much as I would have wished to spend at least one more day in Taipei, no amount of wishing could change the date and time on my airline ticket – and that time was drawing ever closer. Time to pick up my bags, say my farewells, and head for the airport.
Continue reading “Field Report: Taipei, Taiwan (07 November 2014) – Part 4/4”
On the first part of our walk across Taipei, we saw a series of buildings that reflected two centuries of the capital’s history, spanning its transition from an outpost of Qing China to a colony of Imperial Japan.
But we’re not done yet – not by a long shot. So tighten those laces, take a sip of water, and get the camera ready.
Continue reading “Field Report: Taipei, Taiwan (07 November 2014) – Part 3/4”
Without a doubt, the National Palace Museum ranks amongst the finest institutions of its kind anywhere in the world. Having said that, I know of one other museum in Taipei that probably outranks it in almost every sphere of interest – whether it be art, or history, or architecture.
A museum that charges no admission fees and keeps no closing hours, where the exhibits can be touched and photographed without fear of reprimand, where patrons have whole streets lined with restaurants for cafeterias and sprawling night markets for souvenir shops.
That museum happens to be none other than the city of Taipei itself.
Continue reading “Field Report: Taipei, Taiwan (07 November 2014) – Part 2/4”
Within striking distance