Have you ever read Memoirs of a Geisha? That book came alive as real-life geisha scurried along the narrow streets beside us! Geisha (or geiko or meiko) are still found in Kyoto, specifically the old district of Gion.. which was our favorite part of the city. {haa! his oompa loompa dance to the miniature door} Kyoto's Fall illumination: the perfect way to end our trip. ... continue reading...

Arashiyama is a very beautiful, quaint mountain town on the Oi River. We kept calling it, "Japan's Vail." My mouth dropped as we walked across the bridge and caught the magnificent sight of the blazing Fall colors on both mountainsides straddling the river. We took a short train from Kyoto and spent the day hiking up Mount Arashiyama to the 130 wild monkeys at the top, walked the river and bamboo forest, ate yummy ramen & tea overlooking the Oi, and roasted chestnuts from a vendor on the ... continue reading...

{back to the warm tropics!!} Kyoto was once the imperial capital of Japan, and is often referred to as the old world/historic heart of the country.. it was spared from the atomic bomb in World War II for that very reason. It's a beautiful place in Fall (and COLD!) with sooo much to see - we must have walked atleast 10 miles a day sightseeing & wandering & eating our hearts out on the awesome food, tea, hot sake (for Cam) & wine (for me). One of our favorite things about mainland: ... continue reading...