wandertheory-blog - Tumblr blog

wandertheory-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Iceland—land of Fire and Ice. Admired for its otherworldly allure, Iceland seems more like the setting of epic-fantasy series Game of Thrones than an actual place; a world with sweeping landscapes home to mysterious creatures and iron-willed men whose mettle has been forged by punishing cold and broiling volcanoes.

In the midst of walking among Viking ruins and climbing up snow capped glaciers I discovered a dreamscape of natural wonders possessing enough lore, mystique and heroism to fulfill any fantasy-lover’s imagination. It may exist sans gratuitous violence, nudity and the dragons of HBO programming, but the thing that makes Iceland so astoundingly beautiful is that it really exists. (And for the record parts of HBO’s Game of Thrones were filmed in Iceland).

“The problem with driving around Iceland is that you’re basically confronted by a new soul-enriching, breath-taking, life-affirming natural sight every five goddamn minutes. It’s totally exhausting.”

—Stephen Markley, Tales of Iceland or “Running with the Huldufolk in the Permanent Daylight”

Iceland is one of the youngest countries in the world, at least geologically speaking. Once home to settlements of Vikings, the country thrives with modern Scandinavian traditions, old Norse myths and an ancient mysticism that has run deep in the country’s veins for over two-thousand years. The people here have an inherent respect for the awe-inspiring, imposing natural world that surrounds them. Adventure beckons at every bubbling hot spring and bizarre, lava-encrusted rock formation. It’s the kind of place you find a bottle of Lysi (Icelandic cod liver oil) at your breakfast table for an extra shot of vitality and the pronunciation of common words like “Eyjafjallajökull” make asking for directions a timid traveler’s worst nightmare.

Starting the Road Trip and Some Car Advice

Like most of our European vacations Max and I decided to forgo the standard tour bus and drive across the country in a economical rental hatchback. We departed in May, missing the swarms of tourists who visit during the high season (June-August), just as the spring days begin to lengthen and the promise of summer sunlight seems eternal, averaging up to seventeen hours of daylight! Our path was the classic Ring Road—1300 km of mostly paved coastal roadway circling the country. After we picked up our rental car we promptly discovered why ninety percent of vehicles in Iceland resemble some kind of hybrid monster truck. The sad truth of the matter is that two-wheel drive cars simply don’t cut it on the rugged terrain and snow covered mountain passes. A tense commute to Northern Iceland found us being dug out of snow by sympathetic travelers in better equipped vehicles. More than once Max and I found our car careening wildly on partially snow-plowed roads that bordered plunging drop-offs! I’ll admit in retrospect the danger was exciting, but at the time it was damn terrifying. My advice: Don’t skimp on four-wheel drive or GPS.

The car we did NOT have on our road trip.

Viking History at Þingvellir

The first stop on our road trip and only 23km east of Reykjavík was dramatic and expansive Þingvellir. The very first democratic parliament in the world was established here in AD 930. The Vikings were a progressive bunch. Forgoing a Nordic monarchy they called their nationwide council the Alþing, entitling all free men to participate in the dispensing of justice and passing of legislation. At the height of its day nearly every important decision affecting Iceland was made here, including the country’s kristnitaka (the taking of Christianity), which had been heatedly split between Christianity and Paganism. Families, tradesmen and singles would travel across the country to attend the Alþing’s annual assembly hoping to barter, settle disputes and find partners for marriage.

Þingvellir is not only a historic site, but also a stunning paragon of geology. The site rests toward the fault lines separating the North American and European tectonic plates. The gradual separation of the earth from these two points has created valleys of fissures and rifts that feature incredible geological aftermath and unparalleled views.

Geysir

Our next attraction was Geysir—a once gushing hot spring that shot plumes of water reaching 80 meters into the sky before it became clogged in the 1950s. Rumor has it ceased to work when troublesome tourists threw stones into it in an attempt to set it off.

Luckily the hot spring Strokkur is just a stone’s throw away. Strokkur is much more reliable than more famous Geysir, actively gushing up to 30m of water every 5-10 minutes. You can feel the geothermal heat of the springs as steam erupts into the air and dissipates in the sunshine. The location is surrounded by gurgling brooks, the ever present stink of sulfur and errant tourists removing gloves to dip their fingers into boiling water.

Vik and the Black Coast

Iceland’s Southern most coast features an exotic ebony beach made of black basalt sand with dramatic rock formations and mossy basalt sea stacks. The coast offers some of Iceland’s best wildlife watching; in some areas colonies of puffins and other sea birds nest and flit about the rocky outcrops.

Lava Fields

No matter which direction you go in Iceland you are bound to stumble upon stretches of lava fields, some even spanning hundreds of miles. This is because the country is home to nearly 130 active and inactive volcanoes and the reason it is the youngest land mass in Europe. You’ll find evidence of volcanic existence everywhere—from melted, twisted hunks of metal that once served as road bridges to open-roofed, windowless houses blackened by soot and no longer inhabitable.

As a native Texan I found the lava fields to be fascinating and unlike anything I had ever seen. I was drawn to them like a moth to a flame. They’re surprisingly springy, covered by thick carpets of lichen that allow you to bounce across the fields like a human Super Mario. I was later warned by locals toward the end of our trip that many of these fields contain “false” bottoms and are responsible for more deaths than the volcanoes themselves. Alas, I have kissed my dreams of becoming a lava-hoping Nintendo player goodbye and have accepted admiring the lava fields from afar. But they sure are pretty…

Waterfalls

Chances are no matter where you turn, you are also going to encounter a stunning foss (waterfall). Some trickle lazily down mossy banks while others gush mightily with the potency of Thor’s hammer. Many are easily viewed and accessible while others require a perilous and slippery trek. All are unique and nearly unadulterated. Here are just a few of my favorites:

Gullfoss (Southwest Iceland)

Seljalandsfoss (South Iceland)

Gljúfurárfoss (South Iceland)

Goðafoss (North Central Iceland)

Glacier Hiking at Vatnajökull National Park

Glacier hiking on Europe’s largest icecap was a firmly established bucket list item for Max and me. After a quick briefing from our tour guide on safety and glacier navigating we strapped on our crampons, helmets and set off to climb up mighty Vatnajökull Glacier.

Hiking in a polar climate means an ever-changing scope of body temperatures. One minute I was heaving yourself up the frosty incline panting, while beads of sweat trickled down my back; the next moment an arctic breeze would rip through my clothes like wind through a mosquito net, reminding me just how far north I really was.

After an impromptu Cliff Bar picnic we were challenged by our tour guide to execute a perfect “viking pushup”, which meant securing your ice-pick horizontally into the glacier and using it as a rail to lower yourself down to imbibe some of the trickling glacial water. We were warned not to brush any pieces of ice with our hands or face because the ice was jagged and extremely sharp. Below is my ungraceful attempt at a “glacial facial”.

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Ethereal icebergs glow cerulean and turquoise, drifting atop the serene lagoon of Jökulsárlón. The lagoon is so picturesque it has been featured on the silver screen in blockbusters like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Batman Begins (2005) and the James Bond flick Die Another Day (2002). A large portion of my camera’s memory card was used in ardent admiration.

Searching for the Lagarfljótsormur (Iceland’s Lochness Monster)

As we made our way Northeast we began to hear whispers of a giant serpent dwelling in massive Lake Lagarfljót (near Egilsstaðir in East Iceland). Sightings of the monster, also called the Lagarfljót Wyrm have occurred since 1345AD and still continue to the present day. Many locals contest the Icelandic legend’s existence and have the recorded video evidence to prove it. A lucky farmer was awarded 500,000 ISK (roughly $4,300 USD) by the Fljótsdalshérað municipal council in 2012 for filming the alleged creature swimming through the glacial water of the lake. http://icelandreview.com/news/2014/08/25/truth-commission-lake-monster-does-exist

Standing at the edge of Lake Lagarfljót I saw neither hyde nor hair of the myth, but to be fair searching conditions were extremely cold that day.

Blue Lagoon

No trip to Iceland is complete without a pilgrimage to its famed geothermal spa: The Blue Lagoon. Although slightly expensive and overcrowded, there is no sensation quite like floating around milky blue waters full of nourishing blue algae, silica mud and mineral salts that rest at an inviting 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Here you can slather on silica mud masks, sip on Icelandic beer and experience the pummeling effects of a hydraulic powered massage from one of the steamy spa waterfalls.

DCIM100GOPRO

Trolling Around

Although Iceland was officially Christianized in the year 1000 AD, barbarous trolls, angelic Faye and the mysterious Huldufólk (hidden people) still seem within the realm of possibility.

Troll mythology abounds here in the North and with so many eerie rock formations dominating Iceland’s lava fields, it’s not hard to see why. Icelandic legends entertain that suspicious looking rocks and other geological formations were once trolls caught out at sunrise that have been permanently turned into stone.

We spent a night at Fossatún Country Hotel, located among the rolling hills and tumbling waterfalls for which West Iceland is famed. The hotel takes a particular interest in troll mythology and features troll-themed statues, games and walking paths. Inspired by the beautiful surroundings of the hotel, host Steinar Berg has written a charming collection of children’s stories based on old folk tales with beautiful illustrations by Brian Pilkington.

The grounds offer stunning views at sunset and plenty of fun and silliness for kids or those young at heart.

Reykjavík

Iceland’s capital is a hotpot of culture featuring a hip nightlife, quirky fashion, graffiti-gilded walls, uber-trendy coffee houses, edgy bars and an eclectic music scene that has made international waves with musicians like Björk, Of Monsters and Men, Sigur Rós, and Ásgeir Trausti. Reykjavík also serves as the gateway for excursions and adventure activities that depart outside of Iceland’s biggest city (population 120,000—whopping standards compared to Iceland’s sparsely populated mainland.) The National Museum of Iceland and Saga Museum are brilliantly curated and worth a visit. A colony of celebrated cats lords over downtown Reykjavík and even have their own Facebook page:@CatsOfReykjavik.

Icelandic Food and Drink

Food in Iceland is often locally grown, organic, both exquisite and expensive. The climate and soil are relatively inhospitable for producing crops, but Icelanders long ago have learned to harness the abundance of natural resources. There is no shortage of greenhouses powered by geothermal energy and we spied many of these along with farms hosting sheep, Icelandic horses and even reindeer while driving along the countryside. Lamb is a particular staple of the Icelandic diet. A large fishing industry also helps to sustain the Icelandic economy and for the culinary adventurous there are rarities to try, such as Minke whale, puffin and fermented shark. (Icelanders have traditionally depended on aboriginal subsistence whaling; however, despite enormous global controversy and a moratorium to cease commercial whaling enforced by the International Whaling Commission, Norway, Iceland and Japan still partake in commercial whaling.) Langoustine (Icelandic lobster) is a Southeastern specialty and typically comes grilled and slathered in garlic butter. Skyr, Iceland’s creamy low-fat version of yogurt, is heavenly on its own and a topping on most desserts. Hverabrauð or “hot-spring-bread” is a traditional rye bread baked underground using geothermal heat and also worth a try.

For drinking coffee is the norm, but you’ll be hard pressed to find any alcoholic beverages outside of Reykjavik and other large towns. Bottled water is a thing in Iceland, but it’s superfluous (and to many downright dishonest)—all tap water comes from Iceland’s pristine glaciers and tastes delectable.

Considering Visiting Iceland?

Iceland possesses a wild and haunting beauty that sinks deep within your veins. Its unending sky and ever-changing landscape are elemental, linking us to our primordial past and epic history. For more information check out a copy of Lonley Planet’s Iceland and visit the following sites:

For more information on Iceland visit: http://www.iceland.is/

For more information on Reykjavik visit: http://www.visitreykjavik.is/

Cheers and Happy Travels. XOXO.

Jess

Iceland Iceland—land of Fire and Ice. Admired for its otherworldly allure, Iceland seems more like the setting of epic-fantasy series…

0 notes

wandertheory-blog · 9 years ago

Text

Honeymoon Pt. II

I was on the road with my husband more than halfway through our honeymoon when I realized I had fallen hard for Thailand.

Together Max and I had snorkeled in the crystalline waters of Ko Phi Phi Leh and trekked up the jungle-covered steps of a monk trail carved from the steaming wilderness of Doi Suthep mountain. We had fraternized with lady-boys over cosmetics and each gotten a drag-queen style makeover. (To my great pleasure Max got a dose of the meticulous and painstaking efforts women take to apply makeup). We had both been charmingly squished by a 3 week old baby elephant who weighed over 120 lbs and thought he was a lapdog. One evening we were drenched by one of the formidable storms that comes rolling into the bay of Patong every November afternoon like clockwork during a romantic candlelit beach dinner; everything became soaked. I did my best to shield the wine from the onslaught of rain. Eventually we were rescued by a group of sympathetic hotel employees wielding massive umbrellas like chivalrous knights.

The Land of Smiles offered a trove of unforgettable moments, but every avid traveler wonders what new adventure awaits… So when you find yourselves half way around the world on your honeymoon, you have to wonder—What’s next?

Pictured above are some of my favorite moments of Thailand.

That’s right, Pilgrim. You guessed it. You. Keep. Going.

It’s time to seek out adventure in new, unexplored places. Max and I decided to make one more stop in Asia, to a city that sits precipitously on the edge of ancient tradition and rising modernity. We made our way to Japan—home to the weird, chic, and impossibly wacky.

Tokyo

It’s quite literally one of the biggest cities in the world. Once known as Edo, Tokyo proper is home to 9 million people, but this figure increases to over 13 million people when counting all 23 wards that are included as prefectures of the city. (And this figure does not include the people who commute to work in the city everyday!) It’s an urban forest that sprawls for miles, connected by a dense network of rapid transit systems.

Above, Tokyo Tower stands tall amid its skyscraping brethren. Although painted vivid orange to comply with aviation regulations, you may notice its familiarity to a certain famous landmark dwelling in Paris, however use caution before mentioning this to any residents who will indeed tell you they are uniquely different structures. (Tokyo Tower is actually taller than the Eiffel Tower by 108 feet.)

In this great megalopolis it’s hard not to stumble upon an adventure. And oh, did we stumble into some interesting experiences. Like the…

Robot Restaurant

The premise of this spectacle is insanely wacky: sword-wielding babes, mermaids riding robotic sharks, dinosaurs vs. giant arachnids battling to the death. Neon lights flash in every corner of your visual spectrum as you watch the stage shift and metamorphose on motorized wheels. Part cabaret show and part absurd exhibition—sensory overload has never been this quirky, fun or enjoyable. There may not be a good explanation as to why Robot Wars exists, but it won’t stop you from having one helluva time.

Before the show Max and I nursed some cocktails of the canned variety in the electrifying neon lobby. While we waited for the real show to begin we listened to a live band jamming to some popular tunes. Pretty sure that isn’t really Daft Punk playing (below) but honestly… How would you know?

It may surprise you to find that Robot Restaurant is indeed already a famous draw to international celebrities. Possibly the greatest use of its atmosphere is in Muse’s music video Panic Station in which the dazzling ambiance of the restaurant takes center stage. Check out the music video here; it’s the closet you will come to experiencing the madness without visiting in person. The band’s stylistic flair will also give you a taste of Tokyo street style and fashion. Robot Restaurant is located in the Kabukichō district of busy Shinjuku, also home to Shinjuku Station, one of of the busiest railway intersections in the world. Need to know—Buy tickets hours in advance and show up early. Website: http://www.shinjuku-robot.com

Purikura Magic

Renowned by Japanese teens and giggling schoolgirls alike, Purikura is like your typical photo booth in any mall or bar—but with an extreme makeover edition. Akin to glamour shots on steroids, these bizarre mechanisms allow you to magnify your eyes to Disney princess proportion, lengthen your torso, paint yourself with makeup and stamp yourself with hearts and cutesy woodland animals to your heart’s content.

Once you snap your first picture you’ll have to admit there’s nothing quite as satisfactory as being able to Photoshop yourself to unrecognizable proportions with the mere click of a button. You may hate Kim Kardashian and her uncanny ability to market photoshopped pictures of herself, but after my own foray into Purikura I have to confess that manipulating one’s photo can be strangely fun… and addicting. By looking at our photos you can obviously tell that Max didn’t enjoy posing. Not a single bit. (I’m lying. That boy was born with Blue Steele in his blood and could give any male model a run for his money.)

Meiji Jingu

A visit to this beautiful Shinto shrine and garden offers a tranquil retreat away from the busy shopping streets of Harajuku. You might just forget you’re in the middle of Tokyo.

Need to know—Website: http://www.meijijingu.or.jp/english/

The Grand Art of Karaoke

The Japanese know how to do karaoke the right way. There are entire buildings on the streets of Tokyo devoted to the art—like Big Echo, one of the biggest companies in the karaoke industry.

Just imagine…Your own private room and an expansive electronically housed collection ranging from traditional Japanese folk music to soulful 70s love ballads to Phil Collins to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the latter of whose lyrics may or may not be completely accurate. Combine this with a TV remote that allows you to select pitchers of beer and cocktails with the touch of a button which are then delivered by an enthusiastic waiter you can’t help hoping is partially deaf and you have a genuine recipe for fun. We passed the length of 4 hours and a solid amount of yen in the blink of an eye, and although I have a sneaking suspicion that my singing voice sounded about as lovely and melodic as a dying animal howling its final breath, that sad truth will never stop me from singing my heart out to a Whitney Houston song any chance I get.

Japanese Pancakes at Sakura-tei

Here’s something I would like to see catch on in the States. Okinomiyaki (savory pancakes) are whats on the menu at this quirky and uber trendy lunch spot. But these aren’t your average crepes or flapjacks. Sometimes called “Japanese pizza”, okinomiyaki allows you to get extremely creative. You have the option of combining ingredients like pork, scallions, cabbage, corn, mushrooms, egg, cheese—even squid and bacon! You have exactly 90 minutes to make and eat as many of these little guys as you want on your griddle table. Wash it down with a Kirin and you’ve reached utter perfection.

Need to know— Address: 3 Chome-20-1 Jingumae Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan. Phone：03-3479-0039. Hours: 11:00 am to 12:00 am. Website: http://www.sakuratei.co.jp/en/

Kiwaii

Japan is HUGE on all things kiwaii (literally the factor of an object’s cuteness and likeability). There exists a massive kiwaii culture of making adorable anthropomorphic characters out of… well, anything really. Take Gudetama, the world’s cutest and laziest egg, created by mogul corporation Sanrio (whose products also consist of the internationally popular Hello Kitty brand).

Kiwaii can make anything cute. Just ask Kapibarasan, an amorphously adorable rodent whom I now use as a custom pillow on long flights.

Geeking out in Akihabara

Nothing can quite prepare you for the madness that is Akihabara. It’s a bit of a mind trip, and I mean that in an LSD meets manga Godzilla kind of way. Anime, action figures and maid cafes abound in this pinnacle of Japanese geek culture. Here you can visit Super Potato—an old-school arcade gallery with classic “button-mashers” like Street Fighter. There are entire floors devoted to 80s and 90s Nintendo games.

There are certain times when traveling abroad that I begin to notice some distinct cultural differences. Traveling can open your eyes to new and exciting concepts and on occasion, some discomfort.

In Akihabara things were beginning to get distinctly weird. While navigating the neon streets of this geek fantasy land I couldn’t help but notice a deluge of hyper-sexualized animated images peeping out of every comic shop, even plastered on the side of skyscrapers. To be frank, Japanese pornography can get a little wacky. Not that I’m one to really judge. We all have our own individual appetites and inherent vices; that’s human nature. But for a girl from Small Town, Texas to look at comics that feature an impossibly and exaggeratedly chesty nymphet with tentacles sprouting… ahem, I’ll spare you the details. Needless to say things were getting a bit strange for me.

Akihabara plays host to some pretty interesting and deviant animation… But hey! Different strokes for different folks.

The Penguin Bar and the Whiskey-Drinking Dentist

The food and drinks were satisfactory, but truthfully the Penguin Bar turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. How can you enjoy a cocktail while staring at a wee penguin forced to endure life behind the dingy glass of a cramped aquarium simply for the entertainment of the bar’s patrons? We had a moment, that penguin and I, and his eyes reflected a a hunger for freedom and longing for a different life in a far away sea.

Max and I left the bar disillusioned but in search of more beer so we decided to walk to a nearby dinosaur-themed bar. Here I sampled a cannabis-flavored beer (trust me, it was the hops!) and we honeymooners met a friendly pair of Japanese newlyweds—including the man who would later become known as the whiskey-drinking dentist.

Sitting quietly in the corner of the empty bar this man emanated a certain air of machismo akin to the likes of a young Earnest Hemingway. We shared glass after glass of posh whiskey and discussed topics ranging from newly married life to the niceties of life on any continent. To some, the Most Interesting Man in the World drinks Dos Equis lager, but in my imagination he sips on Yamazaki and surreptitiously pays the rather hefty whiskey bill of American tourists.

Tsukiji Market

Enter the world’s busiest fish market and traipse down aisles lined with cockles, massive tuna steaks and all manner of wriggling, very much alive sea creatures. The catch of the day gets bagged and bartered between brusque fishermen and shrewd businessmen. Don’t be surprised to find scowling men hovering over their catches and chain-smoking cigarettes. The market hours are strict and business booms. Mountains of Styrofoam packaging signify the end of the market day around 3:00 pm. With nearly 450 kinds of fish and marine life it’s a uniquely visceral experience.

Need to know— Address: 5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. Be forewarned: the location of the fish market is scheduled to move to new site in Toyosu in November 2016. Check out the website for additional details: http://www.tsukiji-market.or.jp/tukiji_e.htm

Sushi for Breakfast at Daiwa Sushi

If you find yourself hungry after perusing the aquatic smorgasbord of Tsukiji Market, you couldn’t have picked a better location: you’re right across the street from renowned sushi restaurant—Daiwa Sushi.

The early bird gets the sushi.

Who knew that sushi for breakfast could be this heavenly? Max and I had to wake up before the crack of dawn to join the throng of devoted customers waiting outside of this renowned sushi spot. Offering a prefixed menu for those not fluent in Japanese, Daiwa dishes out some of the most delectable nigiri in Tokyo, considered to be the sushi capital of the world.

Respect the chefs by forgoing the addition of soy sauce, wasabi and ginger. These guys have been trained to master the the long-revered art of exceptional sushi making and know exactly how to tickle your taste buds. Need to know—Website: http://www.daiwasushi.com/

Hamming it up at the grand temple of Senso-ji.

Kyoto

Once the capital of Japan, lovely Kyoto resonates with tranquil beauty, prisms of color and centuries old tradition. Life is still metropolitan in the city, but it trickles at a slower pace here. Kyoto remained the imperial capital of Japan for over one-thousand years and it is here among its countless temples you will find a devotion to simplicity of mind and pureness of heart.

Just a smooth 3 hour bullet train ride away, the Tokaido Shinkansen covers 513 km (318 miles) between Tokyo to Kyoto and reaches speeds up to 285 km/h (177 mph). The Japanese bullet train serves as a railway system to commute working persons into Tokyo and its greater surrounding area. Max and I made the adventure into a day trip but we could have easily stayed longer to steep in the history and native beauty of Kyoto.

Despite the serenity of the city, waves of tourists enter the sights and temples by the busload. Start your day early to avoid getting caught in the rush.

Nijo-jo Castle

A walk through the prismatic gardens surrounding the broad stone fortifications and encircling moats of Nijo-jo Castle instantly captured my imagination and transported me back in time. The castle was once home to the Tokugawa shoguns and was built between 1601 to 1626, demonstrating the expansive power of those who ruled Japan between 1603 to 1868.

The Ninomaru Garden (pictured above) and the Honmaru Garden (pictured below).

Unlike the Honmaru Palace, the Ninomaru Palace (the official residence and functioning office of the shoguns when visiting Kyoto) is open to the public. The wooden interior of the Ninomaru Palace is bedecked with golden painted ceilings and ornate sliding doors which become increasingly more detailed as you travel further into the palace’s interior. The palace is actually 5 separate buildings constructed from Hinoki cypress and connected by a series of corridors boasting “nightingale floors”—floors that creak and squeak when walked upon to alert the shoguns of any assassins or unwanted intruders.

Need to Know—Website:www2.city.kyoto.lg.jp/bunshi/nijojo/english/

The Higashiyama District

This well-preserved historic district offers a collection of shops, cafes, and traditional miscellany laced with touristy gimmicks. Here you can even get a caricature drawn of your pet(s) wearing traditional kimonos. (And who wouldn’t want that?)

Kiyomizudera Temple

Kiyomizudera, or “Pure Water Temple” is just a short walk away from the Higashiyama District and remains one of the most visited and beloved temples in Kyoto. The temple grounds are surrounded by wooded hills that flash spectacular foliage and offer distant views of Kyoto to the west. The Buddhist temple’s name is derived from the pure waters of the Otowa Waterfall that rests at the base of the main hall. There are three separate streams that trickle down a ledge and into a pond where visitors can drink from cups attached to wooden poles. Legend states that by making a wish and drinking from one of the streams the recipient will be promised a long life, knowledge or an auspicious love life. Just don’t drink out of all three or you’ll be considered greedy!

The Way Home

During the evening the bullet train became infinitely more crowded. (I attributed this to be the Japanese equivalent of rush-hour). With no seats available Max and I had to stand in the junction corridor in between cars, shunted in between some disgruntled commuters attempting to scarf sandwiches and send text messages to waiting loved ones. This kind of multitasking was a remarkable feat due to the bumping and jostling of the train as we skidded back to Tokyo, requiring you to hold onto some kind of handle or surface to keep from being knocked over. In this rickety corridor I could actually feel the force and high speed of the Tokaido Shinkansen. City lights whizzed out of the corner of my eye, giving the illusion of the Millennium Falcon entering hyperspace. Though there were moments on the train when I questioned the security of my lunch and the sureness of my balance, it was all worth it remembering that very morning when I had been awoken by my husband to catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji’s pure snow frosted peaks covered in swirling enigmatic clouds.

Japan Honeymoon Pt. II I was on the road with my husband more than halfway through our honeymoon when I realized I had fallen hard for Thailand.

0 notes