Started the day off with more sightseeing. Headed to the Ginkakuji Temple (Silver Pavillion), Kinkakuji Temple and Ryoanji Temple. This last one has a special Zen rock garden, one of the masterpieces af Japanese culture. There are beautiful gardens surrounding the area and it all makes for a peaceful thought provoking morning. Really enjoyed my time in Kyoto...with the option I would have spent more time here. It has a lovely feel about the place. Had to he...

Today I stayed at a Ryokan which is an old traditional Japanese house. I was waited on hand and foot by my personal hostess. These places are very traditional and basic with a simple table in the middle of the room, a small Japanese garden and at night a fouton is made up for your nights sleep. It was a really relaxing day to dress in traditional clothing, soak in an overly hot bath drinking ice cold beer, read by the Japanese garden, listen to traditional m...

Managed to find myself a CitiBank first thing this morning...I am now rich...and relieved!! Headed off to Kyoto on the Shinkansen (Bullet train). These things are so efficient / clean and smooth. There is one leaves Tokyo every 10/15 minutes and you just turn up and secure yourself a seat then travel 300 km/hr in real comfort. You are served good food and drinks at really good prices...Virgin have some work to do!! Stayed in my first hostel (K's Hostel Tokyo...

Headed up the TMG today to the 45th floor for some photos. Got up there took two photos of Mount Fuji, or to be more precise the mist / fog / pollution obscuring it and then my camera batteries ran out...I seriously need practice in the art of photography!! Stopped off at a couple of inner city parks in Shinjuku and Hamariku-teien Garden for some peace, tranquility and green tea. Got a boat up the Sumida river to Asakusa where I visited the Sensoji Temple. ...

Arrived in Tokyo after a nice easy flight...slept most of the time as I was seriously hung over from night befores leaving cocktails! Note to anyone else having a get together the night before a trip abroad...make sure you have started your packing before you go out...If not, make sure you have a really good mate on hand to help you out...I would have been in a right mess if it had been all left to me...Cheers KL!! The biggest thing I have noticed up to now is...