Rainy Day Reads

If you need a reason to put Bangkok on your itinerary I have some good ones right here. Although it is hardly possible to avoid the capitol city of Thailand on any Asia trip, seeing as it is a major hub of transportation, with connections far and wide in the world. If you need convincing to brave the sweltering streets rather than enjoy the air-con in your hotel (provided you coughed up enough money to get an air-con room), have a look at these pictures and I think you will find yourself hitting the streets in no time! Bombard your senses with the colorful scenery around the city. No point in trying to make an easy transition when you first land, the city is full on from the get go, but you can find peaceful moments, espcially on the longs (canals) and at orchid farms.  While you're at it enjoy the local wildlife which is to be found everywhere, including your room sometimes! If you prefer animals without legs you can feed the local trouts...

Ayutthaya is situated 80 km from Bangkok and it was that nation’s capital for a good 4 centuries, from 1350 AD to 1767 AD when it was destroyed by a Burmese army.   Wat Yai Chai Mongkol Today it is a must-see on any trip to Thailand as it is absolutely loaded with temples and statues of the Buddha. The famous “Buddha head in tree roots” is also located here. Be warned, though. It is not very big. For some reason I always thought it was massive, but it is close to lifesize, so don’t expect more than that.  The huge amount of temples and statues were built by 33 different kings when the city was in its prime. The area was declared a historical park in 1976 and renovation work begun in previous years turned even more serious. Part of the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.  You can visit the city from Bangkok, sailing up the Chao Phraya River, The River of Kings, or you can go by road, whi...

A trip to Japan is all about cherry blossoms, geisha spotting and zen gardens and you can get almost all of that in Kyoto. We spent a few days in the city and used it as a head quarters for day trips around the area too.  Kyoto abounds in temples and old houses and if you want to shop and experience the culture, Kyoto is the place to be, as it is the centre for old crafts like woodcarvings, silks, lacquer and paper goods. Kyoto used to be the home of the imperial court and this of course meant that the city blossomed and was the centre of religion, music, theatre and dance, as well. The city experienced its heyday in the Muromachi period in 1334-1568 AD. Entire neighborhoods became dedicated to a single craft, the craftsmen delivering goods to the court and the feudal lords. The workshops of their descendants can still be found today in the back alleys of the old part of town.  Supposedly Kyoto is the home of 20% of all of Japan’s national treasures, such as mor...