Kyoto: Hundreds of monkeys and a hair rope … oh yeah, and some awesome temples
- Aperture: f/2.4
- ISO: 80
- Shutter Speed: 1/20 s
- Focal Length: 4.28mm
- Camera: iPhone 4S
While thinking back over the cities we’ve visited, Kyoto is on the top of my list. The city is a mesmerizing union of modern and medieval Japan. Of busy city life and nature. A thriving metropolis dotted with mind-blowing Buddhist temples and Japanese gardens. The city, for me, exemplifies what I love about travel and…
Making furry, fuzzy friends on Miyajima Island
- Aperture: f/13
- ISO: 400
- Shutter Speed: 1/200 s
- Focal Length: 15mm
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D
According to “Nihon Kokujisekikou” (“Observations About the Remains of Japan’s Civil Affairs”), Confucian scholar Shunsai Hayashi’s painfully titled book chronicling his 17th century travels through Japan, Itsukushima ranks among the country’s three most scenic spots. Our own travels did not include the other two locations – Matsushima and Amanohashidate – but we’ll give Hayashi the…
We’re big in Japan, or: How to ride overnight buses in the Land of the Rising Sun
- Aperture: f/2.4
- ISO: 800
- Shutter Speed: 1/15 s
- Focal Length: 4.28mm
- Camera: iPhone 4S
Japan has a reputation of being an astronomically expensive country. To be sure, it’s not a budget destination, but one of the biggest expenses travelers face — intra-country travel — doesn’t have to leave you with an empty wallet. Many people purchase the JR rail pass which provides unlimited travel within the country’s train system…
“Doing” Japan (Because Dave Barry recommended it)
- Aperture: f/8
- ISO: 640
- Shutter Speed: 1/125 s
- Focal Length: 10mm
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D
While in Vietnam we convinced ourselves to backtrack and add Japan to the itinerary. There were two deciding factors: The first was we wanted to visit my friend and former co-worker, Charlie Reed, who lives outside Tokyo. The second reason was that Dave Barry recommended it. Yes, I’m referring to Dave Barry, the former Miami…
Warhol-ing it in Hong Kong
After our less-than-stellar experience in Hanoi (though the rest of our visit to Vietnam was very enjoyable), and a couple months in the developing world craziness of Southeast Asia, we were looking forward to the First World comforts provided by a major world city. Hong Kong did not disappoint. We arrived very late, but the…
When Hanoi annoys, head to Ha Long (and beyond)
- Aperture: f/11
- ISO: 500
- Shutter Speed: 1/250 s
- Focal Length: 10mm
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D
If you’ve been to or planned a trip to Vietnam, chances are you’ve heard of Ha Long Bay, a group of some 1,600 picturesque islands and limestone pillars in the Gulf of Tonkin. But you may not have heard of Bai Tu Long Bay. This protected World Heritage site occupies three-fourths of the bay area…
Hanoi: A not-so-friendly bunch of commies.
- Aperture: f/4
- ISO: 1000
- Shutter Speed: 1/20 s
- Focal Length: 10mm
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Our impression of Hanoi started at poor and rapidly deteriorated from there. The problem was that the residents of Vietnam’s capital city possessed an uncanny ability to make us feel like walking ATM’s – complete with flashing, neon targets on our backs. The city loomed gray, wet and hazy from pollution as our taxi from…
Hoi An: The grand dame of Viet-nam
- Aperture: f/16
- ISO: 400
- Shutter Speed: 1/1000 s
- Focal Length: 14mm
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Vietnam, for reasons I’ll explain in my next blog post, was my least-favorite country of the 16 Him and I visited on our World Trip. Hoi An, despite the ridiculous lack of leg room provided on the JetStar flight we took to get there, was an exception. The former port trading town is located in…
Ho Chi Minh City: A friendly bunch of commies
- Aperture: f/5.6
- ISO: 320
- Shutter Speed: 1/80 s
- Focal Length: 10mm
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D
When we landed in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (formerly Saigon), I was expecting to be immediately surrounded by communist propaganda portraying the evils of western capitalism and the virtues of dear Uncle Ho and socialism. Instead, the taxi ride into the city revealed a thriving, modern city complete with bustling markets, neon lights loudly…
Exceeding maximum wat-age
- Aperture: f/14
- ISO: 400
- Shutter Speed: 1/250 s
- Focal Length: 20mm
- Camera: Canon EOS 7D
The name “Angkor,” tends to conjure up images of Angkor Wat, that massive, 200-hectacre Khmer temple and its lotus-like towers. But Angkor Wat is just one of the scores of temples within the ancient city of Angkor. Angkor Archaeological Park passes are issued in one ($20), two ($40) or three-day ($60) increments to allow time…
