Field Report: Kyōto, Japan (20 November 2014)

20Nov14 023 Autumn Leaves Eikando Zenrinji Kyoto Kansai Japan

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.

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Flight Report: MNL-ICN-MNL on Z2 884 and Z2 85

13Dec14 009 A320-200 Economy Class Air Asia Zest Z2 85 Seoul Incheon Manila

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).

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Flight Report: MNL-FUK-MNL on PR 426 and PR 425

23Mar15 006 Economy Class Philippine Airlines PR 426 Manila Fukuoka

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).

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Food Report: Nakamura Tōkichi Honten (Uji, Japan)

20Nov14 008 Matcha Haikara Soba Nakamura Tokichi Honten Uji Kyoto Kansai Japan

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.

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Field Report: Uji, Japan (20 November 2014)

20Nov14 014 Phoenix Hall Byodo-in Uji Kyoto Kansai 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.

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Field Report: Taipei, Taiwan (07 November 2014) – Part 4/4

07Nov14 007 Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 1 Departure Immigration Taipei Taiwan

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.

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Field Report: Taipei, Taiwan (07 November 2014) – Part 3/4

07Nov14 048 Presidential Office Building Taipei Taiwan

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.

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Field Report: Taipei, Taiwan (07 November 2014) – Part 2/4

07Nov14 002 Longshan Temple Taipei Taiwan

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.

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Field Report: Taipei, Taiwan (07 November 2014) – Part 1/4

07Nov14 National Palace Museum Taipei Taiwan 002

An early start, a late evening flight … and lots of glorious sightseeing in between.

Let’s take this day in four parts. The first, set out below, is a little low on photographs – the reason for this will be explained later – but the significance of the place I visited warrants a separate treatment. The second and third parts will document a long walk across the historic heart of Taipei … and no worries, those posts will be far more richly illustrated. The final part will be a simple closing post to round off the journey, after which we’ll be hopping over to Japan (again) for a look at my autumn 2014 journey in the Kansai region.

Now then, back to Taiwan, where Friday morning dawned bright and sunny…

Continue reading “Field Report: Taipei, Taiwan (07 November 2014) – Part 1/4”