TOKYO AND TEMPLES

Japan seems a long time ago, especially as we have almost completed our journey across Australia. No excuses other that we have been busy travelling!

I wasn't that keen on including Japan on our itinerary as it has never been high on my list of places to visit, thinking the time would be better spent experiencing Cambodia and Vietnam.

We only spent a week in Japan starting in Tokyo where our dear friend Caroline Morris and her charming family hosted a few days in the capital.

Tokyo lives up to its reputation of a bustling, modern, electric, fascinating city though it has to be said it is little soulless. It is a far cry form the insignificant fishing village of the 16th century. Razed to the ground by fires, earthquakes and allied bombings it has had to reinvent itself time and again.

One of the highlights of Tokyo had to be the traditional Japanese meal hosted by our hosts Caroline Morris and her husband Yoshi. We went a Japanese restaurant and were shown to our own dining room where a hot pot of meats and vegetables were served on low tables. The children loved cooking their own food at the table!

We also explored city parks where Tokyo youth go to hang out some dressed in the as Elvis and doing their interpretation of Rock and Roll dancing while girls dressed like Mini Mouse in red polka dot skirts stand on the sidelines watching! It is like a dress up street party with young adults masquerading and posing for whoever wants to take their photograph! Really strange and screams of repressed childhood in my view!

David, William and Alice made the very early morning excursion to the Tokyo fish market. It was huge and the fish was displayed with care to the point of reverence. William found the huge sword like knives used to cut the fish fairly impressive.

The weather was lovely; crisp and cool with blue skies and perfect for our tour of the Imperial Palace and Gardens. We booked this tour months in advance and were accompanied by Caroline and her daughter Naomi. The gardens were so dignified and a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo.

After three days in Tokyo we headed to Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan. Getting there was a highlight as we booked seats on the Shinkansen "bullet" train. The Shinkansen defines Japanese pursuit of perfection in engineering. You purchase your ticket and proceed to the platform where the carriage is clearly marked. The train pulls in and the doors open exactly where they are supposed to, with the seats and carriages being spotlessly clean and comfortable, and a great view of Mt. Fuji along the way! Tokyo to Kyoto, 570 km in 2 hours 40 minutes...exactly.

Kyoto is a city of thought and reflection with over 1600 temples, 270 shrines and 200 gardens. We arrived just as the first buds on the cherry blossom were bursting forth. When in full bloom the city must look fabulous with the delicate petals floating in the breeze. We spent time walking through the gardens of the imperial palace admiring the trees coming into bloom and just letting the younger boys run off some pent up energy. We only touched on visiting the myriad of temples but managed to see some of the highlights like the Golden Temple and observed a Shinto ceremony. We all really enjoyed the excursion to the Nijo Castle, built by a Shogun war lord in the 1600th century as a reminder to the imperial family as to who really ruled Japan. The beautifully decorated rooms with priceless Kano paintings of tigers and leopards are perfectly preserved and the "nightingale" floors which squeak when walked upon fascinated William and James. The floors squeak to warn of intruders and possible assassins!

The Gion district of Kyoto traditionally houses the geisha quarters and is home to the Gion Corner where demonstrations of the geisha arts of dance, tea ceremony and music are performed nightly. There are so few geisha now in Kyoto that they are quite difficult to spot. If you are lucky, like we were , you may spot one as she shuffles between appointments in tea houses!