A Brief Overview....
Well, i guess i started this blog a little late, i've been here almost four months and it's hard to fathom how the time has flown. Japan is an amazing place and i am in love with every inch of it! still can't believe how lucky i've been to find myself in this amazing place.... did i mention this country is an amazing place?!
To start, i suppose i'd best try and fill you in (in brief) on all my goings-on for the past few months. the most recent highlights have been trips to Kyoto, Osaka, and of course Tokyo cities. Tokyo is really BIG! most of the people you speak to about it will tell you the same thing, "it's the type of city that's great to visit but after about a day or two you need to get the hell out before your head explodes...." well, that's fairly accurate. i didn't really mind it though, i loved the highrises plastered with excessive advertising and neon lights, the fashion, shopping, nite-clubs and hoards of people - i had to laugh at myself and how i once thought Sydney was a big
city.
To start, i suppose i'd best try and fill you in (in brief) on all my goings-on for the past few months. the most recent highlights have been trips to Kyoto, Osaka, and of course Tokyo cities. Tokyo is really BIG! most of the people you speak to about it will tell you the same thing, "it's the type of city that's great to visit but after about a day or two you need to get the hell out before your head explodes...." well, that's fairly accurate. i didn't really mind it though, i loved the highrises plastered with excessive advertising and neon lights, the fashion, shopping, nite-clubs and hoards of people - i had to laugh at myself and how i once thought Sydney was a big
city.
Harajuku with Callie (a friend of Sarah's from Bisbane who was visiting).
Tokyo scenery
Kyoto was more my kinda town - low key with alot of history and an awesome club scene to boot! myself along with Sarah and Megan (my two work colleagues and dear friends) saw lots of gorgeous shrines and conquered all the major tourist attractions. we hired some bikes for a day from our hostel and rode like crazy, soaking up all the interesting sights and sounds along the way. highlights for me on this trip were 1. riding my bike through Gion (famous geisha district); and 2. seeing a pair of geisha girls - i read somewhere that there are only about 1000 geisha remaining in the whole of Japan, 500 of which are presumed to be living in and around Kyoto, so we were very lucky to see them.
Another great place we visited recently was Nikko, a beautiful town situated in magestic, green mountains 2.5 hours drive from Takasaki (my town). there were heaps of amazing temples and shrines surrounded by prehistoric looking forests, i felt like i had taken a step back into ancient japan. also, you know the famous phrase, See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil? well, the original '3 monkeys' is found carved onto one of the temples in Nikko... pretty cool, huh? Mum and Dad, this town is a MUST for your trip!
Another great place we visited recently was Nikko, a beautiful town situated in magestic, green mountains 2.5 hours drive from Takasaki (my town). there were heaps of amazing temples and shrines surrounded by prehistoric looking forests, i felt like i had taken a step back into ancient japan. also, you know the famous phrase, See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil? well, the original '3 monkeys' is found carved onto one of the temples in Nikko... pretty cool, huh? Mum and Dad, this town is a MUST for your trip!
Pretty pillars in Nikko (with Callie)
A towering pagoda in Nikko.
'The' 3 monkeys!
I told you this entry would be brief and that's all my fingers will allow me to type right now, so i hope you enjoy the read and the snaps. i also hope that everyone is healthy and happy back home. i hear Brisbane is all blues skies and sunny perfection - that thought will keep me warm at night, when winter sets in and i'm lying in bed and the temperature is starting to drop below zero.... love you all.
posted by Emily Thomson at 4:41 PM
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