Shanghai 12/2012

Before my adventure in Vietnam began I spent five hours in big, beautiful, bustling yet smoggy Shanghai. Its a marvelous city thriving with people who are pioneering their way through life. It is China's largest city and soon to be the largest city in the world. Its hard to express the exultation I felt when standing beneath the Pudong districts skyline. Two of these buildings are the second and fourth tallest buildings in the world.
   As soon as I left the subway and started taking pictures I met two kids from the Southern region of China, Nick and Queena. They were so kind to me and very nice to talk too. They treated me to a very nice dinner and we talked about a lot. They are music majors and so we had a lot in common. They invited me to their city in the future. Its too bad I didn't have enough time with them. I was in a way sad to leave Shanghai so soon. I had to take the world's fastest train back to one of the world's busiest countries to catch a flight to Vietnam.

Kyoto and Nara, November 2012

During the first weekend of November Polly and I went to Japan's ancient capitals: Nara and Kyoto. We spent most of our time in Kyoto which was full of wonderful eats, beautiful temples and interesting people. Its hard to pinpoint the highlights of the trip but given the amount of temples we visited I would have to say that they were the most memorable part.

Making homemade Indian Curry before our trip

Beautiful spicy curry

Homemade Naan bread

The Japanese are great at spelling. Spelling error on a major airline...

Kinkakuji or the "golden pavilion."

Kinkakuji was formally an estate belonging to a wealthy statesman. After he died it was purchased in 1397 and turned into a zen monastery.

Kyoto tower rises high above the extravagant Kyoto station.

Yakisoba noodles

Kiyomizu temple

Kyoto station

Bus pass

Daikakuji temple