Cliff's Notes - On Travel

     Today was undoubtedly the highlight of my time in Bangkok! I visited the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Grand Palace. I got there early in the morning to avoid the large crowds and it did not disappoint.   I have seen many temples between Japan and Thailand, as well as many Buddha statues, but this was on a completely other level. The decor, the grounds themselves, and just the feeling I got being there are truly indescribable. Unfortunately, I don't think pictures do it justice either but of course I took some. You cannot take pictures inside the actual temple but I did get one from just outside where you can see the Emerald Buddha if you zoom in. This Buddha was carved out of a single jade stone.     I sat for some time in the temple and meditated. It was very serene and peaceful. I thought of my friends and family back home, my country going through a difficult time right now, and many other things. But mostly, I just sat and tried to be prese...

     Today I changed hotels and while it isn't as nice as the last one, it's right in the middle of the action! I am now very close to all of the sites I want to see before heading south towards Phuket and Koh Samui.     While in Japan everyone pretty much kept to themselves and I could go a whole day walking around without anyone saying a word to me, Bangkok is quite different. Food vendors and merchants line the streets, and people are trying to sell you on it all. Even taxi and tuk tuk drivers can be pretty aggressive. I'm not sure how many times today that I said "no thank you, I like to walk."   I was pretty sweaty though, as the humidity felt quite a bit higher today with thunderstorms in the area. The temples and shrines here are numerous and quite flamboyant. Some streets are impossible to walk down without getting bumped into/bumping into people. For someone who likes their space, it's a little difficult to get used to but I only have one more...

     I haven't posted for a couple days as I had to make my way from Kyoto to Osaka in Japan, then take a red eye to Bangkok. It was a pretty tiring journey but I had a whole row to myself in the Thai AirAsia X flight quiet zone, so that was nice. I arrived in Bangkok around 1 am. The walk to my hotel was short. Not a lot of people out at that time, but it was still hot. It's actually their winter here, but all that means is it's less humid (thank God).    My hotel is nice and cozy. I didn't do much yesterday cause I got in so early and it was just nice to have my own room after staying in hostels in Japan. Breakfast is included and I definitely indulged (pictures below)! I also got some microwaveable meals from 7-11 that I didn't photograph: Thai basil chicken and a ham and cheese sandwich/croissant that is apparently famous. So far, the food is amazing!    The plan today is to meet up with a friend and site see in the city center. My main goal is to ...

     Yesterday I took the train from Tokyo to Kyoto and arrived around 3 pm. I had a chill afternoon, hanging out in the local park where they had a farmer's market, food trucks, and a band playing. I slept really good last night and got a very early start today (5 am).   I walked around the city for almost 4 hours, stopping to take in the sites and appreciate the views. It's Sunday morning here so it's quiet and peaceful out. I started by walking to Kyoto Gyoen, where the Imperial Palace and Gardens are located. They're surrounded by a large, beautiful park. It was pretty empty at that time except for a handful of joggers and people walking their dogs.     From there, I walked to Nikishi Market cause it looked like what you expect from an Asian street market. However, it was too early and only a few vendors were opening up at that time. It was still cool to see, and I got a good idea of the street food and goods sold there. I may stop by again later t...

     Made it to Tokyo Tower yesterday! At 333 meters tall, it is taller than the Eifel Tower and the tallest, free standing steel tower in the world! I arrived just before sunset so I got some amazing views in daylight, of sunset, and at night. It really puts into perspective just how vast the Tokyo metro area is. Can you spot Mt. Fuji in the background?!?! I'm pointing to it in one picture below: