Good Food and Views are Worth the Journey
Gardens by the Bay is a great place to come and get some photos of some of Singapore's iconic landmarks. And when it gets too hot, the two conservatories are welcome places to duck into to cool down. Ideally, I'd say to come early in the morning before it gets too hot for the best photo opportunities.
One of the walks that can be done is to take an easy ten minute stroll out to the Marina Barrage. I came here early one morning to see if I could get some good shots of the Singapore...
The main sites to visit in Kyoto’s eastern districts include the Shugakuin Imperial Villa, Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion) and Eikando Zenrin-ji. The Philosopher’s Walk, is an easy path to stroll down, linking Ginkaku-ji to Eikando Zenren-ji and another temple Nanzen-ji. This makes spending one day in this area a nicely contained itinerary.
If I had to rank the top sites to visit in this area, they would be Shugakuin, Eikando temple, and Ginkaku-ji. So if you’re short on time, make...
Three of Kyoto's major temples are located within a 40 minute walk of each other in the northwestern quadrant of the city. Of these Kinkaku-ji - also known as the Golden Pavilion - is probably the best known. And while all three are temples, they each have different characteristics which makes a morning or afternoon spent exploring this area, a nicely contained visit.
I started at Kinkaku-ji and although there are a gazillion photos on the net of this temple, I was still in awe even...
Kyoto’s western district Arashiyama is worthy of its own destination visit. Nestled in the lush hills along the Oi river, it is best known for its towering bamboo forest and the Tenryu-ji temple, while the imperial residence Katsura Villa and “Moss Temple” Kokedera (Saiho-ji) are nearby. You could easily spend two days here without stepping foot into Kyoto city. But if you’re short on time, here is a one day condensed itinerary.
Morning: Katsura Imperial Villa or Moss...
Katsura Imperial Villa is evidence that good design lasts forever. Designated a cultural treasure by the Japanese, this garden - said to be the most beautiful in Japan according to the Imperial Household Agency - and its buildings were completed in 1645 and used as a royal residence. The design of the villas and its tea houses are simple, due to the influence of zen buddhism, and look as modern now as they may have done more than four hundred years ago. Its garden is also said to be...