Kyoto, Japan

     One week from now we will be on a flight to Seoul, South Korea.  Looking at the weather forecast it seems pretty chilly, lows of 27˚F and high of 44˚F; pretty scary as we have gotten used to the 60/70˚F weather here in Taipei.  However, we have prepared quite a bit since the last time we decided to travel to a country during the winter months we were very much caught off guard by just how cold it was.  Regardless of the cold, that county still reigns as one of our favorites, Japan.

Kyoto bamboo forest (Photo by Valerie)

     About a year ago we took our second trip to Japan and flew from Taipei into Osaka's Kansai Airport.  After getting off the plane we boarded a JR (Japan Railways) train for the hour long trip to Kyoto, where we spent the first half of our trip. Unfortunately, this is where the weather got us; on again, off again rain and snow.
     Fortunately, we were staying at an awesome hostel, which we definitely recommend, Khaosan Kyoto Guest House.  A very welcoming environment set in a large space made it feel much more like someones home than the typical hostel.  Also, there was a great common area where guests gathered to eat, drink, and converse when a respite from the frigid weather was desired.
     The hostel also provided entertainment, tours, and activities on an almost daily basis.  The first night they performed a traditional Japanese comedy show called Rakugo.  Rakugo is performed by a single person who tells and acts out a detailed story while sitting and using only two props, a paper fan and a small cloth.  It was a very enjoyable and entertaining style of comedy. The second night a man came in to teach how to write/draw traditional Japanese calligraphy.

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Us freezing at the Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine

     The following day we ventured back into the the icy cold, Jonathon, having under packed, was wearing only a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, and a thin windbreaker.  Fortunately, I had a little more as I packed gloves and a scarf; but I still wished I had a few more layers of clothing.  We went to the Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine; an impressive and well known shrine in Kyoto.  Paths leading up to the shrine were framed by hundreds of orange and black temple gates.  We walked around taking in the sights until our frozen fingers and toes forbid us to continue our adventure.

Fushimi Inari-Taisha shrine entrances (Photo by Valerie)

The orange path. (Photo by Valerie)

The weather did not discourage us the next day either. We ventured out to where I very much desired to go, the Kyoto bamboo forest. Despite the cold weather the forest was green and lush and as magical as the pictures show. Only not as vast as I had envisioned, but amazing non the less. The sun was shining it was very beautiful there.

Us in the bamboo forest in Kyoto

Kyoto bamboo forest (Photo by Valerie)

After the forest we headed back near our hostel.  Jonathon hurried off for a tattoo appointment at CatClaw Tattoo, while I was waiting for him, I roamed the nearby market area.  Here I found some fun food shaped souvenirs and green tea Kit Kats and Aero bars. Delicious!  Apparently Japan has many unique Kit Kat flavors.

Market area in Kyoto (Photo by Valerie)

Another street of the market (Photo by Valerie)

A machine that makes pancakes! (Photo by Valerie)

Fake food souvenirs (Photo by Valerie)

Kit Kat and Aero green tea goodness 

In the evening we went to the Kyoto train station.  A magnificent modern building with a ton of escalators to ride! 

Inside Kyoto station (Photo by Valerie)

Staircase and escalators to the top (Photo by Valerie)

We rode the escalators all the way to the top.  Where we found a cute garden and a night view of Kyoto.  The lighting of the garden gave it a Tim Burton movie feel. 

Happy Terrace Garden (Photo by Valerie)

View of Kyoto (Photo by Valerie)

Looking down into the station (Photo by Valerie)

Night and day views of Happy Terrace garden at Kyoto station. (Photos by Valerie)

The next day we left for Osaka, but first we stopped in Nara, as a friend had told us it was worthy of a day trip for its beautiful park, and she was right. 

Please stay tuned for more on our travels in Japan, including our first trip when we visited Tokyo.  And, of course, for more of our adventures elsewhere in the world. 

Intro

Thirty by thirty is one couple's goal to visit and experience 30 countries by the time they are 30. 

Let me tell you who they are. 

Jonathon and Valerie in Chiang Mai, Thailand

My name is Valerie, I have always wanted to be on the move, and had the desire to travel. Unfortunately, I don't recall the first time experiencing a new country and culture, since I was only an infant when my family visited Mexico.  My first real adventure was when I did a semester in Rome, in 2007.  While there I was able to visit Dublin, Paris and London, as well as quite a few other cities in Italy.  It was an amazing experience that made me want to travel as much as possible.  Later on in my life I met Jonathon, who is the other half of we.  

As stated, my name is Jonathon and I didn't begin my travels until after I completed Graduate School.  I have always had an adventurous side and knew I wanted to travel and experience the world.  My first trip abroad has been my longest trip thus far.  I moved to Taiwan to teach English and live an expat life in February of 2012.  While there, Valerie came to visit and together we traveled to Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and all over Taiwan.  After my year of teaching we took a two month tour around Southeast Asia. Visiting Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. 

Our goal for this blog is to relive our experiences, and to continue to write about our new ones.  Collectively we have been to 16 different countries. We have three more years to complete our goal. We hope that our experiences and stories will entertain and advise new travelers.