Nara has several large temples, cool sake bars, and decent hiking. But its mostly known for its deer. This leads to many different scenes. Some pretty stereotypically Japanese. Some that might be described as adorable. And some particularly carnivorous. Who’s in the mood for venison?
Recent Posts
The Golden Rock of Myanmar
Kyaiktyio High above the plains of SouthEastern Myanmar… At the top of a ridge lined with monasteries and pagados… The Golden Rock. Simultaneous object of veneration and tourist attraction for pilgrims of origins both near and far. I highly recommend the ascent for dawn.
Sumo Tournament in Osaka: Large Men in Loincloths
The absolute single most excellent thing about Osaka was the SUMO TOURNAMENT that was going on when Matt and I visited. We took our seats hours before the main action began to see some of the lower level fights (which is how I managed to get a video from just […]
Bribing Guards at Koh Ker
In places like Cambodia, Indonesia, and Uzbekistan (to name just a few) the most important factor in life doesn’t always seem to be who/what you know but, rather, who and what you pay. Rules are flexible everywhere, but in some places all it takes is a bit of cash to […]
The Kazakh Dream
I decide to travel to Kazakhstan mainly because I am nearby. Just across the border from Urumqi, China; and my Chinese visa running worryingly low on days. I have to choose between trekking all the way back across the Middle Kingdom or taking the conveniently timed bus to Almaty. On […]
Hangzhou’s West Lake
One of the most famous tourist destinations amongst Chinese, Hangzhou’s West Lake is dotted with “scenes” named silly things like “Remnant Snow on the Bridge in Winter” and “Orioles Singing in the Willows.” Though I wont bore you, the reader, with all of them; there are a couple that I […]
Hey there! I'm Stephen, this is my travel blog, and that's me in the poofy hat.
I'm a photographer / writer traveling since 2008, and I've been doing my best to visit amazing places.
My current focus is Central Asia, because for a hiking and camping enthusiast it's as good as it gets.