Fun in Japan

While we were in Africa, Kendall got word that a paper he had submitted to a conference had been accepted, and he was to attend the conference and present the paper. So quite unexpectedly, we had a holiday in Japan in July.

First of all, our travel agent booked us on a Qantas flight. Even though they have been on my blacklist for a long LONG time. I couldn't argue, it was considerably cheaper than any other airline and it was a direct flight from Melbourne to Tokyo (and return). So fly with Qantas we did. And of all the Qantas flights we took in July, 100% of them were more than one hour late. And the plane we were meant to fly on coming home was changed, so we had the shitty older model with the horrible seats. Back on the blacklist they go!

Anyway we arrived in Japan (late) and spent a night in Tokyo before heading to Kyoto on the bullet train the next day. OMG the bullet trains are amazing. The rest of the world (I'm looking at you, AUSTRALIA) could learn a thing or two from the Japanese rail system. It is so efficient, and so clean, and on time and just wonderful.

Our first place of accommodation in Kyoto was the Rihga Royal Hotel, which was okay. It was conveniently located near the conference venue, and it had very good air conditioning. Good AC was essential as Japan was suffering through a crazy heatwave when we were there and the temperature was about 38C every day. With 95% humidity. People actually died, it was horrendous. According to all the Japanese people we spoke to, the heat was very unusual and they really were not coping.

Anyway after the conference ended we moved to the Four Seasons Kyoto, and you should all go there and say hello to Vincent the food and beverage manager, and Alex the hotel manager, and in fact all the staff as they are amazing. It is a gorgeous hotel built around an 800 year old koi pond.



On one day we went to visit the bamboo forest of Arashiyama, which is just beautiful.



We also stopped in to see the house of a former Japanese movie star, and a temple along the way.





Another day, we caught the bullet train to Hiroshima.



This building is known as ground zero for the bombing of Hiroshima during WW2, and it is now a national peace monument. Hiroshima is a modern and lovely city and well worth visiting.

On yet another day, we visited the Fushimi-Inari temple, also known at the 10,000 gates temple. It is built up the side of a mountain and one hell of a hike but so worth it.



Once again, it was a balmy 39C so we didn't quite make it all the way to the top.

After our time in Kyoto we caught the train back to Tokyo, and spent a couple of days wandering around that crazy city. We went to Electric Town, and over to see the Imperial Palace. We stayed at the Four Seasons Maranouchi Tokyo and it was excellent (say hi to Alvin the restaurant manager if you are ever there).



This is about the closest you can get to the Palace but it is set in lovely parks and it's a nice walk.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Japan and will definitely go back, perhaps to try and see the cherry blossoms. You should go too. It's wonderful.

As always, there are a lot more photos in my FlickR photo stream, just click on one of the photos to be taken there.

An African Adventure part 5 - Jordan

Now I know Jordan is not in Africa, but it was the final stop on our epic African adventure so it has to be part of the same series of blog posts. Also: sorry for taking so long to getting around to writing this.

So having spent nearly two weeks in Egypt it was off to Jordan for eight days. We flew from Cairo with Royal Jordanian and arrived in Amman to be met by another person from American Express Travel. We had a driver for the whole time in Jordan, a lovely young man by the name of Gausan. Leaving Egypt was an experience, from the time we arrived at the airport to the time we got on the plane we went through FIVE security screenings and actually got frisked as we got on the plane, then were accompanied by three air marshalls on the flight. Which just reinforces my desire to never go back to Egypt.

So we arrive at our hotel in Amman and as soon as we got up to our room we realised this maybe was not the place for us. We had requested a non-smoking room but there was an ashtray and some matches on the table, and Kendall counted seven burn marks on the furniture. Plus it stank of smoke. The mini bar was an empty and turned-off fridge, and there was one glass for both of us to share. The really fun thing was the nightclub that started at 2.30am directly above our heads.

The next day with the assistance of our driver, we moved hotels. If you are going to Amman say hi to Hani at the Four Seasons for me. Also stay there because it is wonderful.

During our time in Amman we visited the desert castles on the way to Azraq, as well as the fortress there where apparently Lawrence of Arabia holed up for a while.





We saw the ancient roman ruins int he middle of the city, and the ampitheatre.





We visited the ancient Roman city of Jerash, and Ajlun Castle.





We went swimming in the Dead Sea, which is quite a surreal experience. I say swimming but really it's more like enforced floating.



We saw the ancient sites of Madaba and Mount Nebo (apparently Moses is buried there).



We visited Petra and it was amazing. For quite some distance you walk through the Siq, which is the narrow gorge that leads to the city,



and then you arrive at one of the most famous sites you'll ever see:



Honestly I felt like Indiana Jones. There are a lot of carvings and buildings in Petra, they think that at one time there were several thousand Nabateans who lived there. You can climb the mountain and see the view of the Treasury from above, as we did.



We went to Wadi Rum, and drove around in the desert for ages. And we saw the spot where the Hab was positioned in the movie The Martian (the one with Matt Damon).



We stayed at a resort in Aqaba on the Red Sea for a night and just chilled out (excellent Italian restaurant at the Movenpick Tala Bay). And then we travelled back to Amman for a couple of days before heading home.

I really enjoyed Jordan after the madness of Egypt, the people were all lovely and the sights magnificent. I would definitely go back.

In summary, go to Jordan, see all the sights, and stay at the Four Seasons in Amman. It is well worth the experience.