• Travel
  • Four destinations in a day; Hiroshima, Japan

    Ehime, fukouka, Hiroshima, Imabari, Itsukushima Shrine, Japan, Miyajima, Travel,

    Visiting four destinations in a day to get that all important photo moment was a bit wasted on me. Seeing the world isn’t about ticking things off a list or adding to an expanding photo album, it’s about new experiences, enjoying the moment and taking it all in. My trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima was quite an adventure to say the least.

  • Travel
  • Uncovering traditional Japan: Ehime Japan

    Ehime, Japan, travel blog, japanese, Ehime Japan, Onsen, hotel Ichiyunomori Okudogo Onsen, hot springs, Dōgo Onsen, couchsurfing, 道後温泉, Matsuyama. Uchiko, Uchiko theatre, Japanese theatre, sushimi, Shimohagatei, Moribun, Japanese culture, traditional Japan,

    After another terrible nights sleep I woke to a typical Japanese breakfast of grilled salmon, scrambled egg, rice, yoghurt, fruit and garlic bread rolls (I think these were added to cater for the western tourist, ie., moi). I was touched at the effort Taka had gone to make me feel at home. It was a […]

  • Travel
  • CouchSurfing in Imabari : Ehime, Japan

    yakitori dining, Japanese, Japanese islands, Teoribayashi, Kiroshan Panoramic lookout, Kiroshan, Shimanami Kaido, Shimanami Kaido cycle route, Tatara Bridge, Hakata salt factory, Omishima. Ōkunoshima Island, Rabbit Island, Rabbit Island Japan, Ōyamazumi Shrine, Imabari castle, sushimi, Imabari, Japan, Ehime, couchsurfing, couch-surfing, Ohmishima Island, Shimanami Kaido, cycling Japan, cycling route Japan, travel, travel blog,

    I was nervous about my first couchsurfing experience as I got off the cargo ship from Osaka port. I was staying with 63 year old Japanese retiree, Taka. Taka and I spent a long first day together in Ehime. We visited rabbit island, local shrines, Imabari castle and cycled some of the Shimanami Kaido cycle route. A lot happened that day!

  • Travel
  • The land of the rising sun: Kyoto, Japan

    Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen, Tokaido, Sanyo Shinkansen, Japan, Rising sun, Nozomi, Nozomi train, bullet train, bullet train Japan, Japan train, Kyoto, Shiori-an, Hiroshima, Gion, Japanese tea house, Philosopher's Path, Path of Philosophy, temples, matcha, Inari Village, manga, Fushimi Inari Shrine, Udon noodles, Udon, noodles, glutinous dumpling balls, dumpling balls, glutinous rice, cinnamon, cinnamon cookies, Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji , Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji temple, Arashiyama, Kameyama Park, bamboo forest, bamoboo, Manga/Internet café, plum liquor, Media Café Popeye, Grrrltraveller, travel blog, travel, Japan travel

    A must-visit on everyone’s Japan itinerary, Kyoto gave me a glimpse of old-style Japan with traditional wooden houses, beautiful countryside and geishas. Shiori-an hostel deserves a place in my top ten hostels across the world and my time spent sleeping in Manga cafe wasn’t too bad either. Good food, friends, temples and adventure. Kyoto is a blast.