The trip was a complete success and don’t regret choosing how I traveled. There was the occasional time I felt a bit rushed and hoped to have at least stayed a bit longer, but this was I got a taste of everything. If I decided to return in the future, there is always the benefit of cheap travel within the continent if I’d like to revisit a certain area again.

There were a few places I’d like to revisit because I didn’t get enough time or just try a different season.

Singapore – Definitely worth coming back because I only got to spend 6 hours in Singapore.
Vietnam – I love the culture, the food and especially the people. I heard the best way to experience Vietnam is to start from Ho Chi Minh City in the south and travel north to Hanoi by train or better, by motor bike!
Hong Kong – Seems more of a city I’d like to spend it with my friends. I’d come back just for that reason.
Beijing – Two full days was hardly enough time spent for the capital of China. Summer would be a season I’d like to come back to. See the great wall covered in shrubbery and lush green forest, walk around Tienanmen square a bit more and experience more of Beijing without feeling the below freezing temperatures.
Japan – Japan is much to big and needs to be explored with a few more trips. Springs seems to be the season the country really flourishes with colour and beauty.  Japan offers everything from ancient history to the most modern technology life has to offer, it’s was by far the best place to visit!

Thanks for reading!

So here we are, last day in Japan! Can’t believe just 27 days ago I was on an airplane heading into Singapore and now I’ve covered 5 countries, 16 cities! It’s been a great experience but I’d like to mention how this non-stop traveling makes such an impact on your body. As tempting as laying around the hotel watching Japanese TV, my last day wasn’t going to be spent being lazy. Anyway, got dressed, grabbed another shot of caffeen and aimed to visit the Tsukiji Fish Market. Have I mentioned how 10 out of the 11 days have been sunny in Japan? Incredible!

Tsukiji Fish Market

The largest wholesale fish and seafood market of it’s kind in the world. Located in Tsukiji in central Tokyo, and a major attraction for foreign visitors. Peak hours for tourists to arrive are 5-7 am to see the auction take place. Here, tourists are able to view all the action taking place between the registered bidders and sellers. Unfortunately there was no way I was getting up that early unless handouts of sashimi were advertised – then maybe! I did line up for a sashimi lunch, which was very good. Not sure why it cost an arm and a leg though. Photos were not permitted within the restaurant either, how lame! Seeing as I missed all the action in the morning, the food market didn’t offer any other means of entertainment unless you were out here to purchase seafood.

History about the Tsukiji Fish Market,

The first market in Tokyo was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu during the Edo period to provide food for Edo castle (nowadays Tokyo). Tokugawa Ieyasu invited fishermen from Tsukudajima, Osaka to Edo to provide fish for the castle. Fish not bought by the castle was sold near The Nihonbashi bridge, at a market called uogashi (literally, “fish quay”). This was one of many specialized wholesale markets that lined the canals of Edo (as Tokyo was known until the 1870s).

In August 1918, following the so-called “Rice Riots” (Kome Soudou), which broke out in over 100 cities and towns in protest against food shortages and the speculative practices of wholesalers, the Japanese government was forced to create new institutions for the distribution of foodstuffs, especially in urban areas. A Central Wholesale Market Law was established in March 1923.

The Great Kantō earthquake on September 1, 1923, devastated much of central Tokyo, including the Nihonbashi fish market. In the aftermath of the earthquake, the market was relocated to the Tsukiji district and, after the construction of a modern market facility was completed in 1935, the fish market began operations under the provisions of the 1923 Central Wholesale Market Law. Three major markets in Tsukiji, Kanda, and Koto began operating in 1935. Smaller branch markets were established in Ebara, Toshima, and Adachi, and elsewhere. At present, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s system of wholesale markets includes more than a dozen major and branch markets, handling seafood, produce, meat, and cut flowers. -Wiki

Ginza

Said to be the most expensive part of Tokyo filled with boutiques, department stores, restaurants and coffeehouses. Showcases the most luxurious shopping districts in the world, similar to New York’s 5th Avenue! I had no plans to visit Ginza, but seeing as it was just a stop over before Hei-jinja, I decided to check out the neighbourhood nonetheless. Only really spent 30 minutes here, didn’t come too shop – plus the goods were too cheap for my taste. /sarcasm

Hie-jinja Shrine

Dropped into Hie-jinja Shrine located in Akasaka to see their row of closely built red torii’s. Not as grand as Fushimi Inari’s in Kyoto or Tsuwano’s near Yamaguchi but an alternative if you get out that way. When I arrived at the temple there was a cloud of smoke coming up out of the shines courtyard. Wasn’t sure what to make it out at first, but it looks like I just stumbled onto a fire ceremony – fascinated, I started taking photos! I read that evening back at the hotel it was a once a year tradition where they burning all the accumulated fortunes into the earth – lucky day for me!

To note, the temple also has two entrances. The front presented with a wide flight of stairs and one big torri while the back with a narrower climb roofed with columns of red torris. If you’re bound to Tokyo and can’t make your way out to see the bigger Torii’s in Kyoto or Yamaguchi, this would be your alternative.

Kabukicho (Red light district) in Shinjuku & Hello Kitty Store

Decided to fill up the rest of the evening by walk around Shinjuku’s downtown district. I also heard of a Hello Kitty store in the area, but no guide or map specified where it was. It must have been a secret place mysterious to all foreigners, scavenge clues by asking locals by using the book of Japanese to English translations you uncovered earlier in the trip. Clues lead you to collect 10 unique HK artifacts scattered throughout the land; where when all collected summons a cute HK doll which teleports you to a world outside of earth where then the walls of the Hello Kitty store will open! As you can see from the image, I had successful found it!

Walking around the street of Shinjuku I stumbled into an alley that looked to welcoming to resist with all its advertisement and flashing lights. Now imagine if every alley felt like it was better then the last alley you just went down; this is what it left like. Where I walked into was Kabukicho, the red light district of Tokyo. I remember getting lost in the maze of alleys/streets only to find myself circling around the three most important necessities here; food, video games and sex – I kid you not! Let me clear one thing up though, “It’s not like Amsterdam, there is no window shopping here!”

How disappointing! So I just spent my time looking over shoulders of arcade players!

Ghibli Museum

Studio Ghibli, creators of many popular children’s Japanese anime movies and shorts such as; My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, opened it’s doors to the Ghibli museum in 2001. It’s a commercial museum located at the Inokashira Park in Mitaka, 40 minutes outside of Shinjuku. Entrance is strictly with advance purchase, exact date and time in mind aswell. For more information on how to purchase please click on the link http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/ticket_information/

The 20 minute trek from the JR to the Museum though the city of Mitaka, take notice a surprising mix of Japanese and European influence. I say this because the ground work for most houses in Japan consist of clay and wood, yet here you come across houses and apartments that make use of stones/bricks and steel. Here’s an example; google maps is amazing for this! Pan 180 around on the first person view. Peaceful little city to walk through!

While the museum discrete from the rest of the town with its unique coloured exterior,  circular shaped architecture, exceptional gardening skills and it’s unorthodox choice of spiral staircases. With a child oriented atmosphere, maze-like interior, and a motto like “Lets lose our way together”, you know this museum is a playfully created place. Not only does the museum capture the hearts of the kids it does a great job in drawing in adults just as well.
If you’ve ever been into classical animation, this is the place for you. On the bottom floor, they show how traditional animation is created using film reels to simulate a walking or jumping motion. Upstairs are five rooms interlined within each other called, “Where a film is born” and walking through each room gives you a better understanding of how production takes place. Each room is unique, filling it’s warders with inspirational books, toys, drawings, wall covered  illustrations/sketches and a supposed desk varnished in live action drawings. Rooms filled with inspirational visions which may lead to the creation of an actual film someday.

Across from the “where a film is born” is a half scaled model of the Cat Bus from the movie, “My neighbour Totoro”. No matter what time of day, this fluffy toy gets the most attention as children jump, hug and scale the big cat all day. Unfortunately only kids 12 and under are able to play in Cat bus – what a rip! Venturing on from there leads you up a spiral stair case to the roof where you’re greeted by a serene seventeen foot tall Robot Soldier from Laputa Castle in the Sky. It was placed here to fend off any intruders and keep the museum safe!
Theirs lots of other things to see like a special short only shown at the museum, space of wonder, the central hall with all it’s intricate designs, lets not forget a shop and many more! Everything about the museum was A-freaking-mazing; lots to do, lots to see. I came in not expecting it to be this fun, bury yourself in the fun but don’t do what I did and totally loose track of time!

Couple photographs from Inokashira Park:

Tokyo Tower

While sitting in the JR I remember watching the sun slowly drop from the sky; thinking to myself if I could make it to the top of Tokyo Tower in time for the sunset. This was going to be another one of those times I have to run because it’s closing or for a photographic opportunity I just couldn’t miss!

Standing at 333 meters (1,091 ft), the Eiffel-inspired lattice tower is hard to miss with it’s bright white and orange colours from any distance. Built back in ’58, it’s the tallest self-supporting steel structure in the world. With it’s popularity still growing the structures main source of revenue isn’t just antenna leasing, but also through tourism as well. At the foot of the tower is a four story building which houses a museum, restaurants, and some souvenir shops. Departing from here, guests can visit two observation desks; the two story Main Observatory at 150 meters (492 ft) and the Special Observatory at meters (820 ft).  Just warming to first time visitors, the elevator ride to the Special Observatory isn’t included in the ticket price and will require you to fork out an extra 600Yen to see a better view. What’s another 7 bucks to get the best view of Tokyo. No hesitation, the absolute best investment!

Let me side track a little and tell you another reason what’s great about Special Observatory. Not only can you brag to your family and friends about the photos you took but with a payphone installed, you can call them as well! I wip out the phone card and start dialing my parents; it went something like this,

“Hi Mom! Just calling to tell you I’m safe. By the way, I’m calling you from Tokyo Tower at 820ft so I have to make this quick because there’s this breath taking sunset over downtown Tokyo and Mount Fuji which I just can’t miss! We’ll talk soon though, bye!”

Yes i’m an awful person, that should keep’em jealous for a bit

7 am, bright and early. I swing open the blinds and get another welcome surprise by a warm glow from a corner window in the hall. I crawl out on all fours, stand up and stretch out my limbs like a starfish. I’m out of the hive and ready to take on the day; but not after hitting the hot tubs with my capsule bunk buddies – naked.

I was changing hotels once again this morning, but this time to Shinjuku, where I am going stay for the remainder of my trip. I managed to book the last three nights online and was provided with some of the worst Japanese to English translated directions ever! Let’s just say after hauling my luggage in the wrong direction, over unpaved roads, pot-holes, up and down stair in the subways stations, I was absolutely finished with moving my stuff till it was time to go to the airport!

With respect to the capsule, there was nothing wrong with it, I just wanted to see how it would feel to be in Shinjuku, Tokyo’s busiest district – with everything in walking distance. Once I arrived at the hotel I just felt exhausted from the whole hellish commute that calling it a day, contemplating whether I even wanted to leave the hotel at all. I buried myself under the sheets like a cat and took a lengthily power-nap, which I figured, would solve the problem.

Awaking from the two hour snooze made me feeling a lot better. Before heading out, I dropped some yen into the vending machine in the hotel lobby for a coffee and aimed for my first stop, Shibuya.

Sorry for a history drop but something to know about Tokyo is in 1943 a special ward system was established that split the core of Tokyo into 23 municipalities (wards). This was to give the already enormous Tokyo core some more leadership and for better focused control in different regions. Shibuya is one of those wards and it’s best known for its fashion, entertainment, major nightlife. “Shibuya” is also used to refer to the central business district which surrounds the Shibuya station, one of Tokyo’s busiest railway stations. Shibuya has achieved great popularity among young people in the last 30 years. It’s also particularly famous as the origin of the kogal subculture.

If we were to omit that all together, Shibuya also offers tourists two other reasons to visit: the “Shibuya Crossing” and the famous Hachiko Square, both just outside the Shibuya Station.

The crossing is considered to be the world’s busiest intersection. When the light turn red, crossing sign lights up people from all four corners of the intersection mend the streets and cover up every square inch of asphalt. Same phenomenon happens when the lights turn red; streets clear and traffic moves through clearly.

The other, Hachiko Square if famous for the story of Hachikō, a faithful dog, remembered for his loyalty to his owner, even many years after his owner’s death.

In 1924, Hachikō was brought to Tokyo by his owner, Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo. During his owner’s life Hachikō saw him off from the front door and greeted him at the end of the day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno didn’t return on the usual train one evening. The professor had suffered a stroke at the university that day. He died and never returned to the train station where his friend was waiting.

Hachikō was given away after his master’s death, but he routinely escaped, showing up again and again at his old home. After time, Hachikō apparently realized that Professor Ueno no longer lived at the house. So he went to look for his master at the train station where he had accompanied him so many times before. Each day, Hachikō waited for Professor Ueno to return. And each day he didn’t see his friend among the commuters at the station.

The permanent fixture at the train station that was Hachikō attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. Realizing that Hachikō waited in vigil for his dead master, their hearts were touched. They brought Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait. This continued for 10 years, with Hachikō appearing only in the evening time, precisely when the train was due at the station. –source wiki

Hachiko’s statue stands in the station plaza as a tribute to his faithfulness and loyalty.

After wandering the streets and shops of Shibuya I traveled back to Akihabara. As mentioned in a previous post I’d return to nuzzle in all the gadgets and hopefully checkup on some of the smaller shops. Walking through the Akihabara streets I paused at a store which hanging manga, toys and colorful bright signs all around its entrance just to draw customers like myself off the streets and into their shops. Without much hesitation I wandered in to see hoping to find something neat to take back home with me. The first floor was like all the other stores around; magazines, toys, games, lunch boxes, kids stuff. But it wasn’t until I wandered downstairs; is where I found all the fun. Curiously, I made my way in and around all the Hentai magazines, toys, amenities, and any other unique material you can think of. At the end of it all I discovered an elevator, totally operational and ready to take you to any of the 7 floors provided. I hoped in and went for the top floor for starters.

Now get this, the whole interior of the elevator was draped in pornographic inserts from all directions, including the ceiling. Even looking down at your feet didn’t help as it was just a big mirror anyway. For all you curious folk out there, I wasn’t able to take any photos because of cameras and on looking staff. I won’t go into detail, but consider this place a library. Each floor catered to ever ones demographic; just pick a theme, ride the elevator and choose from a whole assortment of movies, books, magazines, and toys. I won’t lie, each floor was quite entertaining but, no, I didn’t leave with any purchased goods that night! – Maybe some free poster souvenirs, but I swear that’s it!

Finally, on my way back to the hotel I dropped by the Taito Game Station to test my luck in winning a prize from those vending machines. As I giggled from at distance at others struggling to win, I came across a machine with these adorable figures dressed up in cute cow outfits. I dropped in about 5 attempts, horrible as they were I wasn’t laughing now. Decided to play the tourist card today and waved over a cute girl attendant to help me out a little. English was a problem between us, but I found using my blue eyes and showing a genuine warm smile was a international language within itself. It worked; she left me a handicap by leaving the doll just centimeters from the edge of the glass and left me with instructions on where to aim the arm to knock it over. Easy, I was left with a victory no problem – or so I thought! Poor girl I must have called her over at least four more times and dropped in at twenty bucks before finally the tables turned to my success. Oh boy, when that figure fell into the grasp of my hands my eyes lit up like Christmas lights! Success at last! The short walk home to the hotel was now prolonged because I turned it into an awesome photo session.

Mount Fuji and Kawaguchi City from Mt. Kachi Kachi Ropeway

Woke up to another beautiful morning as the sun shined in through the blinds. This may sound hard to believe but I managed to have a very fulfilling sleep last night; no joke, as claustrophobic as it seems to some I certainly enjoyed it. At the top floor was an was an open men’s bath facility, which meant you had to get naked with your other capsule neighbors. I’ve gone through it once in Hakone, what’s another couple minutes anyway!

No plans were set so I decided to visit Kawaguchi Lake, but before leaving I made sure to move the luggage to my next awesome stay at the Capsule Inn in Akihabara! It saves me the trouble of paying for a locker and moving it all twice later that night. I’m going to apologize for how much this blog journal might lack today but i’ll make up for it with good photos. I don’t think you want to hear what I was doing for 3-4 of those hours traveling there and back anyway.

Arriving in Ostuki was the end of the JR Line and the beginning of the Fujikyu Railway which is made for a steeper climb to a whole new noticeable elevation change. As the train pulls up beside you can’t help but notice the strange mountain paintings all over the side and front of it – definitely creeping yet visually pleasing in a way. Surprisingly along the way there were a few towns and villages the train stopped in and the further it went the snowier it got. On arrival in Kawaguchi City, I locked up the laptop and stopped into the tourist center to read up about the city and some of it’s hotspots to view the moutain from. The small city had a couple buses which cirlced through and around the city to each location, but just 15 minutes walk from the center was Mt. Kachi Kachi Ropeway. Opened in 1959, the line climbs Mount Tenjō from the shores of Lake Kawaguchi. The observatory has a view of the lake, as well as the city, Aokigahara forest, and Mount Fuji. As the tram started it’s steep incline up the side of a mountain, what was revealed was a snowed in city banked along Kawaguchi lake. There’s just a sence of quietness and a pause in time when a entire city is blankeded by fluffy white snow. I couldn’t unglue my eyes from the view.

At the top, Kachi Kachi Ropeway entertained even the young ones by placing cute characters of a rabbit and bear in set positions which made photo ops or just to entertain the kids. There was also The Bell of Tenjō; when struck while watching Mt.Fuji granted your wish. Here is a PDF I found online which describes a bit more about the rope way.

Lets not forget the whole reason I came here; the view of course. Providing a beautiful grand landscape any individual can admire, the city was covered in snow and the monstrous mountain surrounding it.
Something unusual and out of context where four Thai monks dressed in traditional orange robes with only gloves on their hands and a hat on the head to protect them from the below freezing temprature. Just looking at them made me cold, and I was well prepared – they weren’t, at all! These weren’t no ordinary monks either, they spoke great English and came equipped digital cameras and cellphones. You can see from one of my photos, one was actually taking a picture from his cellphone. Looks like these monks keep up with the grown market demand.

As the sun was heading down over the horizon I decided to stay till the very end. The next view point was out of the way and a bit far from here. When the sun dipped under the mountain there was nothing else to see; I walked back to the railway station and made my way back into the city.

Mount Fuji from Fujikyu Railway at 7:00pm

Back at the Inn I met a young fellow also staying in Tokyo for his holidays. We talked for a bit, agreed to be both a little hungry and went out for dinner. He knew of this small little joint which served some of the cheapest conveyor belt sushi he’s seen in town. The belt served sushi from a range of the cheapest 50Yen to the most expensive at 500Yen sushi dishes. Cheapest didn’t necessarily mean bad quality or small portions either; just a cheaper fish but still good going down! With so much to choose from I had to be careful because these plates added up quickly! I had to just try them all, no matter the price I came out happy and full; defiantly have to drop by again!

I was pleased to spend the day in Kawaguchi. The day flew by quickly, so if your thinking of coming down to spending the day I recommend staying an additional day. You’ll spend a lot of the time traveling there and back so make the most of it by spending an additional day as time flies by quickly when your here. I don’t think theres another place better spent viewing the famous Mt. Fuji then here.

It was my 7th day here in Japan so it was also time say goodbye to the JR pass, but not before my last trip on it to the big city, Tokyo. For the next 5 days I’ll be spending it here in Tokyo before fling back to Vancouver. This was hardly enough time but this should give me enough time to at least soak my hands. The morning couldn’t have been any better and whether cold or snowy, this is the land of the rising sun! Caught some extra sleep before purchasing coffee from the vending machine and making my way to the station. While waiting for the train I saw first hand the speed of the fastest bullet train in Japan. The Nozomi ripped through the station going so fast I couldn’t even catch the front in focus. I read the Nozomi reaches top speeds of 300 km/h (186 mph) and is able to cover a 515km trip from Tokyo and Osaka in only 2.5 hours. It’s to bad the Nozomi is the only JR daytime train service not covered by the Japan Rail Pass *sad face*.

So today’s schedule didn’t go according plan. I was suppose to arrive in Tokyo, lock up the luggage and make way to Kawaguchi lake. Imagine Shinjuku, the busiest station in Tokyo have all 350 lockers filled up and to that extent I wasn’t the only one experiencing this problem. I decided to depart for Kawaguchi with my luggage and hopefully find any unoccupied lockers there instead. Because of my late departure in the morning time was also the enemy. By the time I arrived at my last transfer to the lake the sun was already making it’s way over the horizon. I had to call off the trip and save it for another occasion in the next 5 days. The great lakes around Mt.Fuji was marked down as a priority for me and so others must be cut to make room.

To start off japan offers a whole bunch of wacky and weird alternatives compared to the rest of the world, but most of you may know this already from the Internet. When your looking within the hotel sector though, the capsule inn is by far the weirdest concept; right next to purchasing a room from a vending machine! The first capsule hotel was the Capsule Inn Osaka in 1979, but it never really caught on outside the country. Each capsule inn offers a different range in entertainment, but most include a television, radio, lounge, and wireless Internet connection. Luggage is locked up and stored in a room by the front desk, while you’re able to take any carry on and store those in a locker on your floor. Privacy of each capsule is ensured by a curtain or a fibreglass door at the open end, and while some might not think this is enough I think there isn’t much to fear in Japan! Many of the hotels are used primarily by men but some offered separate male and female sleeping quarters. Designed for the busy businessmen too tired to make the trip home or from what I was told be the main reason is too intoxicated and embarrassed to face their spouses. Neither mattered because I was just a tourist willing to experience this unusual live style. But before getting to conferable I locked up my stuff, grabbed the camera and made haste to the famous Akihabara Electronic District. The subway system in Japan is phenomenal and easy to read for tourists. Within just 15 minutes from the hotel I arrived. The first place I walked into was just outside the station called Yodobashi Akiba. Before I explain anymore about the biggest electronics store in the area, I’ll let Akihabaranews cover exactly what makes this place so unique.

Dear readers, today September 17th is a non working day in Japan (well there have to be exceptions) but as a result there are very little news to talk about…so we decided to take the video camera and go visit the biggest electronics shop out there in Akihabara: the Yodabashi AKIBA !!!
A couple details about the shop first: 7 floors and everything you might be looking for from telephone, MAC, PC, games, audio, video, toys but mostly the “widespread” products, the gadgets and special goodies are most likely to be found in smaller shops…no matter what if ever you find yourself in Tokyo, you HAVE to go there!
So it’s a huge building, in order to make a nice video in front of which you won’t end up sleeping I decided to SPEED it up, enjoy the footage!

This place has an incredible selection — cameras, equipment, lighting, and anything else you can think of was available. Canon’s most expensive lens was on display with a price tag of 839,000Yen or 8400 USD! I pleasantly asked a person from the sales department if was able to try it out and without hesitation he opened the glass door and let me mount it on my camera. I walked around in close proximity scouting out any neat subjects to photograph and noticed I wasn’t entirely being watched from the corner of their eyes. My shopping experience was pleasurable and so before I left I picked up a few things from the store I couldn’t’ find locally unless I bought them online. As the store prepared to close up I decided make another trip down again and indulge myself with all the toys.

I must been having to much fun because the second I walked out those doors the grumbling in my stomach decided to feel heard. Fortunately the only place open at the time was McDonald’s just across the street with it’s welcoming lights and cute happy meals. To hungry to wonder the streets in search of an alternative I walked in, ordered a meal and went upstairs to find a seat. To my surprise the whole upstairs was crammed with students and young couples. McDonald’s setup a lounge with comfortable seating and booths big enough to seat extra if individuals brought groups of friends to hang out with. As I walked around trying to find a seat for myself, I couldn’t help but noticed how everyone occupied themselves by studying, read comics, browse the Internet or play wireless party games over their Nintendo DS’s. Who ever thought, a library mixed in with a coffee shop feel could turn up in a McDonald’s. After circling the place twice without any luck of finding a seat, I decided to made my way back to the hotel eat and call it a night. Tomorrow, Kawaguchi Lake for some Mt. Fuji goodness.

The wake up was rough this morning! The alarm was set for 7:30, but as I rolled over I smashed on the snooze! I managed to somehow wake to check the clock only to see itilluminate 8:25! I jumped out of bed faster than a couple of the days I was late for work. Reason being breakfast closed at 8:30! Quickly slip into some pants, pull a shirt over my head and bolt it downstairs! Who cares about brushing your teeth or washing my face, even having the shirt on backwards; breakfast was calling! The shock on the servers face was priceless as she runs back into the kitchen to bring out the food she had already packing away from the breakfast floor. It was really nice of her to bring the rest of it back me, they could have just said no.

Hakone is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, less than 100 kilometers from Tokyo. Famous for hot springs, outdoor activities, natural beauty and the view of nearby Mt. Fuji.Hakone close popular destinations among Japanese looking for a break from Tokyo. No trip to Hakone would be complete without a dip at a Japanese hot springs though. If you’re planning to stay overnight, your lodgings may include bathing facilities, but if not many hotels open up their baths to visitors for around ¥500 or so. The volcanically active Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, centered around Lake Ashinoko is an all day event which takes you on a trip across the park via train, trolley, gondola and a Disney decked out pirate ship across the lake itself. Beware though, the JR pass will not provide free access to these attractions without extra cost. The first leg consists of a lot of tram transfers as they all work together to get you to the top of the mountain. Each stop has it’s own small detour consisting of food/beverage stands and a couple souvenirs shops families can look around through.

As you ride the gondola up and over the final peak you will find yourself over a volcanic hot spring full of sulfur springs called the Great Boiling Valley (Owakudani). The valley is open for public viewing and if your like me traveling during the winter, the 80 degree pools make for a warm up stop. Careful though the paths are narrow and constantly filled with tours; falling into one will burn your senors before your brain gets a chance to respond in pain. Owakudani also serves up it’s own delicacy known locally as kurotamago or black-egg. The name is derived from the color of the eggshell which is black from boiling in the thermal hot spring. It is worth mentioning that while the shell is blackened, the content remains the same like in any other egg. Myth says eating one of these eggs can add seven years to your lifespan. Priced at 6 for 500 yen that’s one hell of a deal to extend life!

From here it’s time to take the gondola down to Ashinoko for the final trip across the lake in a pirate ship. I apologize for the lack of photos but I remember dozing off for most of the voyage across the lake. Fatigue had finally caught up to me today! As we all started boarding off, the day was coming to an end and the sun was in the perfect position to photograph Mount Fuji. When this ship docked, I made sure to be the first one off and quickly made my way around to dock to perch myself in the best possible position. In one of the photographs I include the Hakone Jinja Shrine to the composition. If you do a search about this landmark you’ll notice the same composition comes up as the most popular photograph in that area.

As I photographed away, a local who spoke really good English told me on most occasions Fuji is really hard to see because of haze and sometimes caused by fog that builds up around the lake. Even he came out to grab a bunch of photographs as a scene like this normally doesn’t come out – lucky me . As the sun dropped over the horizon the a cold breeze started to pick up from the lake and the temperature absolutely dropped. If it wasn’t for the view I would have fled the scene only to hide in a convince store and sipping away on hot tea!

Hakone is situated at higher elevation then most of the cities I’ve visited in Japan, so at night it became uncomfortably cold. Beijing’s recorded temperature drop of -15C was by far the worst, but I’d give Hakone a close second. On the way back from Lake Ashinoko the travel guide featured Tenzan as being the best hot spring in the area; I’d be up for anything to warm me up at this point though. Tenzan is not just an onsen facility, but hosts a wide range of amenities. A relaxation room overlooks a river where you can unwind while reading or even catch up on some Zzz’s. They have an excellent shabu restaurant which serves up some of the best tasting beer you can buy on tap. It’s a kind of place you can either enjoy it with a family, some friends, or even go solo. In the main hot spring itself, the atmosphere Tenza projected was soothing. Candles were lit during the night to establish a sense of relaxation and probably minimize the visibility of all that naked ass – that was a first for me! You could choose from a handful of different saunas, cold wash bays, four different temperature Jacuzzi and a main hot spring designed entirely using stones and rocks. Nothing I have ever experienced before, this really felt Japanese. I remember walking over to this one Jacuzzi which was occupied by two individuals; trying to blend in and act cool I stepped into the pool only to feel as though the skin on my legs would burn off ! No clue how those two survive because I could’ve realistically boiled food in there.

I wandered around the spa for about two hours and decided to call it a night. When I got back to my hotel in Odawara, the first I did was undress and fall over onto the bed face first.

On my second leg in Kyoto I’ll be visiting Toji Temple, Nijo Castle, Tenruji Temple with it’s magnificent bamboo forest and finally the beautiful Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). There were a couple places I would have liked to squeeze into the schedule but my time restriction wouldn’t allow me to see it all. Just a couple minutes away from Kyoto station was the Toji Temple which clenches japans tallest wooden pagoda at five stories high.

Dated back to 768, this is one of the oldest still standing structures which I came across in Japan; and might I add the oldest and most run down unkempt structure too. Maybe if I had looked past the ugly rainy weather it could have swayed my vote, but I just found the pagoda and temple neglected . I wouldn’t recommend coming here unless you wanted to see what nature can do to a wooden building over the centuries, then you’ve came to the right place.

Nijo Castle, aka Tokugawa Shogun headquarters was definitely on my list of must sees in Kyoto. To impress visitors the castle was more palace then fortress, with defenses designed for looks rather than combat. Despite the facade of a fortress with its moat, stonewall, barricades; it was the headquarters for some of the deadliest shogun for over 700 years – sure hope it doesn’t disappoint!
A couple striking features about the castle would an extensive garden, designed by the renowned gardener Kobori Enshu, that’s famous in its own right. The garden features a small waterfall which drains into a pond with three islands designed with numerous carefully placed stones and topiary pine trees. Another was the nightingale floors placed within Ninomaru Palace. To protect occupants from treachery and assassination, the builders constructed the floors of the corridors in such a way they would squeak at the lightest pressure. And finally all the exquisite examples of lavish design and decor, including the wood carvings above the sliding doors, metal fixtures, and ceiling paintings. Building and paintings have miraculously survived since the 17th century and shows how rich and powerful the shogun lived.

Tenryuji Temple is located in the west Kyoto region. It’s also referred to as a Zen temple, which means -A school of Mahayana Buddhism that asserts that enlightenment can be attained through meditation, self-contemplation, and intuition rather than through faith and devotion and that is practiced mainly in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.This temple has much controversial history, but I won’t go into it as I don’t want to bore you with buddhism102. The temple showcases a magnificent garden, and should be visited just for this.

Although not all that exciting during winter, it’s best viewed during the spring, summer and fall seasons. Just behind the head priests quarters, a large empty veranda looks out onto the garden. Raised just 3 feet off the ground, this is the best place to walk out into and view the stunning man made landscape. The view was just like a painting; the calm pond admires itself image through it’s reflection, rocks placed and sculptured to form the forefront of islands and in the distance trees flurish with spectacular vibrant coats to render the beautiful landscape. All was so unreal; like a chameleon, the painting changes to the seasons choosing. Japanese gardening at it’s finest.

Outside the temple’s exit along the Okochi Sanso trail, Kyoto’s popular bamboo forest. Another place I wouldn’t miss to visit, even if it meant extending my stay. The bamboo seer length was amazing, their trunks extended to the sky blocking out parts of the sun. I couldn’t help but stand there with my mouth wide open; no question that my stay here exceeded allotted time, but when a scene like this doesn’t register with reality so it makes you appreciate it even more.
Waiting for a bus in Kinkuji, I walked into this cute shop called, Lil’ Orbits. The friendly none English speaking girls whipped up their creation of ice cream, sprinkles, hot fudge and mini donuts on top. All finished off with a cute logo and a plastic spork.

My last stop was at Kinkakuji the Golden Pavilion. It’s only a two story temple, but the whole top floor is covered in gold leaf! It’s situated around a magnificent garden and ontop of a mirror pond, called a Kyōko-chi.

Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺 ,Kinkaku-ji^?) or “Golden Pavilion Temple” is the informal name of Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺 ,Rokuon-ji^?) or “Deer Garden Temple” in Kyoto, Japan. It was originally built in 1397 to serve as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, as part of his estate then known as Kitayama.^[1] It was his son who converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school. The temple was burned down twice during the Ōnin War. The Golden Pavilion, or Kinkaku, is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex. The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure gold leaf. The pavilion functions as a shariden, housing relics of the Buddha (Buddha’s Ashes). The top floor is built in traditional Chinese Cha’an style, also known as Zen shu butsuden zukuri; and the middle floor in the style of warrior aristocrats, or Buke zukuri. The ground floor is rendered in shinden-zukuri-style, reminiscent of the residential style of the Heian imperial aristocracy without gold leaf. The building is often linked or contrasted with Ginkaku-ji, the Silver Pavilion Temple, which is also located in Kyoto. – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinkaku-ji.

I was told you couldn’t get a bad photo here because the whole layout was picturesque. I think this has to be one of my favourite photos from the trip! I was hoping to get some snowy photos of the golden pavilion, but I think mine turned out phenomenal non the less! If I had more time just 10 minutes walk is the Ryoanji Temple; famous for it’s rock garden.

My departure from Kyoto was 8:48 and I arrived in Odayama at 10:45! Because of the late arrival, it was hard to find a vacant room, let alone even an open hotel. I was fortunate to find one at 11:50, just 10 minutes before front desk closed! After a nice shower, I layed on the bed and watch Japanese game shows to sleep.

Kyoto, one of the most beloved places to visit in Japan. If you ask any local or tourist they would agree. Just last year the city government announced a record amount of tourists visited Kyoto for the sixth year in a row, and rated Kyoto second most beautiful city in Japan. Kyoto is rich with heritage, culture and traditional architecture; even the Japanese escape to Kyoto for their holidays.

During the night you could hear the rain pouring off the side of the roof. It was a cold morning and an even more miserable experience to wake up to. The weather had other plans though, at about 10:00am the sun started peaking in through the Shoji blinds to warm my space.  I peaked out from under the blankets to feel the ray warming my skin. There’s something about the it’s energy; it happens to all of us but the feeling I get turns me into a new person. Within minutes, the energy of 10 men flows through me and I’m ready to take on the day – no matter what! I get myself ready, throw on my trusty runners and head back to the Kyoto JR station, where the Kyoto’s tourist center is located. If you’re having a hard time planning the day, just ask the staff! They will help structure your day trip(s) to fit in the attraction you’d like to see with the time you have.

The first stop was to Sanjusangendo Temple, only 15 minutes by bus from the JR station. “Sanjusangendo” means a hall with 33 bays, the number is sacred in Buddhism, for it is believed that Buddha saves mankind by disguising himself in 33 different forms. Also not to forget the most important part is the 1001 statues of Kannon-Bosatsu which are placed within it! Each as big as 5 1/2 feet tall, carved out of wood and leafed in gold. In the center, the principal image of Kannon is 11 feet tall. In front of the Kannon statues are 28 different guardian disciples of Buddha with intense expressions and impressive detail. No photography was prohibited within the temple, so I captured a couple outside to compensate. If you ran from one end of the hall to the other it would be equivalent to a 200m sprint. Took a few photos outside by the garden and set off to the next destination.

The guide outlined Kiyomizu Temple as being the most famous temple in Kyoto. I hope not setting my expectations to be disappointed! First thing the bus stop I took a wrong turn and ended up walking up the backside side to the Temple. No regrets though, as I stumbled upon this beautiful cemetery! Tombstones of all shapes and sizes covered every inch of soil this side of the mountain. I also couldn’t believe how quite the area was; when I closed my eyes it was as if placed on top of a mountain peak with nature all around and steady breeze through my hair. I did notice one tomb wasn’t like all the others; what distinguished his from the rest was the unexpected can of Asahi super “dry” Japanese draft beer. Now, I don’t know what your thinking, but I’m guessing this man loved his Asahi beer! – and the last thing in Mr. Yoko’s will says, “Instead of placing flowers by my grave, just drop off some cold bruschis!”

The path lead me through a small forest and finally out to where I should have initially been in the first place. Just straight ahead, the entrance to the temple grounds stood beautifully carved orange pagodas and arches. In direct sunlight the vibrant orange only enhanced it’s appearance from the rest of the city, it was hard not to admire the wonderful workmanship! The place also brought out a character in everyone; you’d notice how a lot more individuals wore elaborate kimonos, sporting the wood platform shoes. Even the clocked monks with straw hats and metal cains made themselves present with the tourists – quite entertaining.

The word Kiyomizu translates to clear water or pure water. Reason for this is beneath the main hall is the Otowa waterfall where 3 channels of water flow into a pond. Each stream is believed to have therapeutic property: wisdom, health, and longevity. Visitors are welcome to drink from each of the streams but the Japanese believe if greed compels you drink all three, then you’ll bring misfortune upon yourself. A popular Japanese expression “to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu” or “to take the plunge” if one where to survive a 13m jump into the pond below from the main hall one wish would be granted. Two hundred thirty-four jumps were recorded in the Edo period and, of those, 85.4% survived. The practice is now prohibited – I wonder why! On my way back I was able to relocated main street down – you know, the one I was suppose to take initially! Not only was this path narrow, but absolutely jammed with shops consisting of souvenirs, restaurants and yummy goodies. If your hungry, I recommend dropping into all the goodie stores and sampling their food. By the time you reach the bottom – top depending on where you start – you technically just burned off some fat walking and was fed along the way!

Next stop was the Kyoto Imperial Palace, but upon arrival I found booking in advance was mandatory. Back on the bus it was and off to Gion district, famous for shopping and geisha. I wandered the beautiful streets of Gion in search of Geishas, no luck though! Just 3 blocks from crossing the Kamo River along Shijo Avenue was a popular Japanese BBQ restaurant I read about in a guide.  Starting at just 2,200Yen per person (prices varied depending on choice) got you a great selection of quality beef, chicken, seafood, vegetables and desert. Each table had it’s own BBQ grill, so the food came prepared raw. The restaurant itself had great atmosphere, wonderful service and played rock jazz which made for an enjoyable evening. The place was mostly filled with couple, so it didn’t make way to strike up any conversation.

After dinner, just next door I stopped into a six story arcade called “The Namco Wonder Tower”. Every floor had it’s different themed entertainment room for the boys, but the basement was only for the ladies! – strictly just ladies only! At the time I didn’t know because I was absolutely oblivious to the signs. I had also got a little excited because I found out the whole floor was dedicated to those Japanese sticky photo machines. Yup, the whole 3,000sq foot floor taken up by 25 or so of those machines – imagine the choices! There was no way I was missing out on this! ** Disclaimer: Will not be liable for any brains exploding because of cuteness overload.  >>Click here<<

Stay tuned for Kyoto Day 2

Today’s day trip destination was Nara Park. I was compelled to visit Nara was because of the huge population of tame deer that populate the 660 hectare park. The myth behind this city says that as the sun broke through the clouds, clearing a path that shon down on earth, a god rode down from the sky on a white deer. Ok, so I might have exaggerated a part or two, but if the story didn’t make you lift an eyebrow then I don’t know what would. The city of Nara greets and takes care of the deer, and for this reason alone it deserves a look around.

Every morning I made myself quick instant oats again, but the bland taste didn’t appeal to my taste buds today. I decided to leave a little early this morning to find a place to sit down and enjoy something other than oats and granola bars on the go. On the way to the park my eyes caught a glimpse of a Mister Donut tucked away in a shopping district across the street. My eyes instantly glazed over and my mind was forced to make an emergency detour. Having been so health-conscious throughout the trip I decided to treat myself to something nice. The selection inside was spectacular, with donuts that I’ve never seen before. The meal I ordered included chicken noodle soup, warm tea and a donut of my choice. I knew the mind was a couple steps behind the stomach because when the meal arrived so did an extra donut. The prices were right anyway, no returns were going to be made today.

Spotting a deer became as common as seeing a person when I got closer to the park. There were fences put in place for their safety, but for the most part they were accustomed to graze anywhere they felt was in their best interest. The deer were very tame and human’s attention didn’t bother them one bit. If you had the need to pet or hug them you might get away with it; although a treat might have to be sacrificed to do so. I found that if you’re going to buy food, be prepared to for a bunch of deer heads invade your personal bubble. These deer have a specialty and it’s to scare you. Don’t expect them to just roll over and say please just because you’re carrying food. From some of the pictures below, you can see the individual holding food will get chased down; even stalked! Makes for great photos!

The rest of the park was an enjoyable experience. There were the odd small shrines scattered throughout, but the one to visit is Todai-ji Temple. It doesn’t stack up to what Kyoto would offer, but it has its own uniqueness. Not only does Todai-ji house Japan’s largest Buddha statue, but it is also the world’s largest wooden building. After a reconstruction in 1692, only two-thirds of the original temple still stands.

As I made a full circle around the park I diverted my trip and headed to the Nara City Museum of Photography. As soon as I left the park, I found myself in a residential area north of Nara City. Traditional Japanese houses populated the surrounding streets and alleys, as if out of an old book about Japanese architecture. The quiet neighborhood was phenomenal to walk through; every house bore a small garden (some more extravagant than others), clay tile roofs, sheltered parking to fit an economic car, and wood being the material of choice for the rest of the house. Absolutely stunning, I would live in one!

The Nara City Museum of Photography was designed and built in 1992 by Kisho Kurokawa. For half a century, master photographer Taikichi Irie spent time documenting festivals in the ancient Yamato area around Nara. Irie generously donated his entire collection of photographs to the city of Nara, which led to the construction of the museum. Nara still breathes a rich historical inheritance dating back to the great artistic and religious flowering of the Tempyo Era in the eighth century. The Museum of Photography is a focal point highlighting the individual citizens’ culture that continually preserves this legacy. The highlights were minimal and the collection pretty uniform, although pieces dating back to the 40′s and 50′s added interest. If you have time, drop by, but is not all that recommended.

There wasn’t much else to do in Nara so I took the next train out to Kyoto, my next destination. I booked Kyoto for two full days and I was going to make sure I didn’t waste any time. Seeing as I didn’t pre-book any accommodations, I was lucky to find a beautiful traditional Japanese-style inn called Ryokan Kyoka, just a 6 minute walk from Kyoto JR station. The hot bath, yukata robe, and cozy futon that awaited me made for a relaxing night.

Couldn’t finish it off without posting another deer photo! Enjoy!

Click here to see the rest of the photos
If you liked the images or the article please leave a comment below, Thank you

The Floating Garden Observatory is situated in Osaka and offers a full 360 view of the city. Because the subway was just minutes away from my hotel, I decided to make this my first stop of the morning. At Osaka’s main terminal (which is in conjunction with the JR line) I loaded up a locker with all my luggage and took only what was essential for my quick trip.

The futuristic observatory located 557ft above Osaka floated seamlessly between two towers of the Umeda Sky Building. A super fast glass elevator separated you and the outside by a thin layer of glass and transported any individual from the 3rd floor to the 32nd within seconds. You then take a enclosed escalator which bridges the two buildings before reaching a restaurant look-out and then finally the extravagant 360 open view of Osaka. The city was covered by a dense layer of cloud, making any landscape photos boring and washed out. I think it was my timing, but just as I was taking photos I got a lucky moment where the sun made it’s way from behind the cloud and showered the city with some colour and contrast. This gave my shooting subject some more colour and light to play with. From the picture below you can see how the patches of light affected the overall image.

For more about the Observatory I leave you with this link: http://www.skybldg.co.jp/garden/index.html

As I looked down at my watch, it was time to make my way back to the station. I had to make it to Himeji Castle by 4pm as the front gates close by that time during the winter season. At a couple points in my trip, I felt like throwing away the whole concept of time but with the nature of my trip that simply wasn’t an option. I read that Osaka had it’s own castle, but it’s better to go see Himeji because of its incredible history and immense structure. Once you’ve seen one, you won’t need to see the other. This was also my first time on Japan’s transportation phenomenon; Shinkansen (The Bullet Train). These trains reach speeds of 300km/h with top at 450km/h depending on the model. The 92km journey from Shin Osaka to Himeji City only took only 30 minutes with 3 stops. That’s fast! If your in a hurry, a ticket like that costs you 3440Yen, where as an hour and 20 minute ride is less then half that. If you’ve purchased your JR pass before coming to Japan price shouldn’t be a concern, but for a local it would set them back $180CND/$150USD for a one way ticket. I was only a couple sentences into the blog before arriving at Himeji, hardly enough time to really concentrate. This wasn’t my utmost concern at arrival, rather it was the fact that Himeji was closing in 5 minutes and I was 2km’s away! I pressed the laptop bag against my side, grabbed the camera sling bag from behind for extra support and started sprinting! Arriving at the last stretch I thought I wasn’t going to make it, but fortunately an attendant saw me and was kind enough to leave the doors open. The funny part was when he waved his hands gesturing me to hurry up, It made him look sideline coach looking for me to deliver that game winning touch down. Upon arrival, I was informed the castle was to close in 30 and the entire park in an hour. No rush what so ever!

Consequently exploring the surrounding architecture became a stretch so I was only able to make it to the top of the main castle, spend 5 minutes, come around to the garden and arrive back at the exit/entrance. Although I didn’t read up to much about the castle I knew a couple things before I decided to make the trip. It was a perfect example of Japanese 14th century architecture with the use of stone, tile, and plaster for it’s outside strength and wood to insulate the inside. Himeji castle was recognized by UNESCO to be one of the three most historical castles within Japan. Rebuilding was never an issue because the castle has never been damaged by attacks or bombed during the second world war. Throughout the centuries, the castle was occupied by many clans of it’s past who all contributed to it’s enlargement. Perhaps the most famous is it’s confusing maze of paths leading up to the main keep which kept me a little occupied. Approaching forces would weave their way through some of these paths only to arrive at a dead end. However the castle was never under serge, so this left the system untested. The wooden structural interior houses many floors for dojo’s, meeting rooms, and traps/hiding spots in case of intruders. The top floor is quite spectacular. Each side had it’s own 180 degree view, whether to monitor distant forces or to lookout over the city below. We all made our way out as they politely told us it was closing time. I hung around the outside for a bit taking photos as the sun made it’s way down over the horizon. It made for a great photo opportunity and I took full advantage of it.

I decided to use the rest of the night to pick up my luggage from Shin-Osaka and board the next rapid line to Nara. From word of mouth, I heard the Super Hotels around Japan supplied travelers a cheaper alternative to the standard hotel rates and I was able to find one at Nara’s train stop. The stay was affordable for a single individual and didn’t break the wallet much.

Click here to see the rest of the photos
If you liked the images or the article please leave a comment below, Thank you

It was time to say good bye to Beijing and in a few short hours say hello to Osaka, Japan. Today’s departure was a bit of a sluggish one; rolling out of bed was the first obstacle to overcome. I missed the airport shuttle bus by a matter of only a few seconds. I was running low on time and if I were to catch the next bus I would never have made my flight in time. Cabbing was the only other alternative and I was fortunate to split my costs with another worried traveler who by luck was on the same flight as me. Now I won’t bore you with all the flight time, but I can still remember that exact moment when I first stepped into Kansai Airport. The airport was quiet; there were little other traffic besides our arrival. In the background, the ambient solo of the Shamisen (Japanese 3-stringed banjo) filled the silence. It was like a dash of salt to make the whole experience that much better.

Throughout the entire trip nowhere was I hassled by security, except today in Japan. I admit though, they made it as relaxing and friendly as possible. They were wondering what I was doing travelling through so many Asian countries over such a short period of time. Anyways, I finally actually got to try out Japan’s imfamous washlets. The heated seat by the way – BRILLIANT! I won’t get into the details but it was hard to part ways! I packed my entire luggage into a locker and took a side trip to Ruiku Pleasure Town. Back home I found out that this was where an awesome Plaza Capcom arcade was located. I tried getting myself a tour with Capcom Japan Inc, but after much searching, emails and phone calls, I was out of luck!

The mall was my first taste of what Japan had to offer in terms of food and merchandise. From the pictures below you can see there was no shortage of toys. It also couldn’t have been called Pleasure Town without a huge ferris wheel spouting from the center. I was very happy to visit Capcom because they are one of my favorite video game developers. They have treated me to some of the best games ever to come out in my childhood. I hereby thank Capcom for releasing all those phenomenal games which I totally ignored my homework for and scrounged up any bits of time to build the bread and butter of the happiest memories from my childhood! I would also like to thank Plaza Capcom for not selling any souvenirs because I would’ve wiped them clean and simulatenously emptied my wallet!

I returned back to the airport to pick up my luggage and caught a subway which dropped me off across the street from my hotel. The railway system took some getting used to at first, but thankfully a lot of the signs and information were in English. At the hotel, the night came to a natural end with a well deserved hot bath and subsequently dozing off to Japanese games shows. It doesn’t matter who you are and what language you speak, plant anybody in front of a Japanese game show and it’s impossible not to laugh!

Click here to see the rest of the photos
If you liked the images or the article please leave a comment below, Thank you