Seoul The start time of the DMZ tour was 8 a.m. The bus was almost full after all passengers were picked up from their hotels. The driving took about one hour. I was glad to see a bit of South Korean countryside from the bus window. So far, I had not left the city. The […]
The DMZ, South Korea 2019 Read More »
From Philippines to South Korea The weather in late September was perfect for taking a stroll around Seoul. Downtown was an amazing mix of traditional and contemporary architecture with green areas between skyscrapers, shady nooks with benches, streaming water, a sculpture here and there, and cozy paved trails. Just look at these two creatures on
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In Cebu, Philippines, my husband and I parted. He was going home and I had time for exploring another Asian country on my own. My initial plan was to see Taiwan. However, my husband was against that; he does not like when I go to a country that he himself did not visit. So Taiwan
We returned to Cebu City from Tagbilaran by ferry. My husband immediately took me to Magellan’s Cross. He meant to see it on the way to Tagbilaran but I was too tired for that. Now, he was not going to miss it. Ferdinand Magellan ordered to install the Cross when he arrived with his ships
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Cebu to Tagbilaran I had a good night sleep and woke up recovered. The legs were no longer hurting after a lot of walking in Japan. The bus from Tagbilaran to Carmen Hills was new, comfortable and air-conditioned. Music played on the bus further lifted my spirits and I began to see the brighter side
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After all-day sightseeing in Kyoto, Japan, my husband and I were going to the Philippines. Our flights were not the most convenient. We arrived in Manila at about midnight, sat there for 4 hours before boarding the 3.50 a.m. flight to Cebu. In Manila airport, security confiscated our umbrella. Apparently, it was okay to fly
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Osaka Our last day in Japan, my husband and I spent in Kyoto. Having left our backpacks in a locker at the train station, we walked to Nijo Castle, the shogun’s residence. The shogun was the military ruler of Japan; he was more powerful than the Emperor himself. Naturally, he lived in a richly decorated
Horyuji The city’s main attraction is the Castle that played a major role in the unification of Japan in the 16th century. Visitors can access the restored main tower. Its five floors are filled with exhibits that provide a glimpse into Japanese history and culture. And, of course, it comes with a grand view from
Nara (continued) In the morning I took another stroll around Nara enjoying its contemporary and traditional architecture. One mysterious building had almost no windows, a small entrance door and no sign of what it is. Horyiji is a place close Nara with the world oldest surviving wooden structures. Some were built in the 6th –
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Nara In Nara’s center, city maps with marked attractions and signs to them are everywhere but if you step away from the center everything including street names is in Japanese only. I was glad to see that many new private houses are built in the traditional Japanese style with fancy roof tiles as on the
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