All the importantly pointless information, at your fingertips:
Number of Countries visited: 16
Largest: Russia (17,075,400 km²)
Smallest: Andorra (468 km²)
Longest Train Trip: 78 hours (Irkutsk to Moscow, 5153km)
Weight of pack on departure: 12.5 kg
Weight of pack on return: 14.5 kg
Weight gain by Lauren on holiday: 4kg
% of weight gain attributable to cheese: 35 - 50%
Number of books read: 26
Fastest Land speed: 346 km/h (bullet train Tianjin to Beijing)
Highest Land Altitude: approx. 2000 m (Andorra)
Number of Languages in which I learnt to say 'thank you': 10
Number of Languages in which I learnt to say more than just 'thank you': 2
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Home
And so, like all adventures, this one has come to an end.
I am back home, about to start the same job, as though nothing has happened in the last four months and I somehow just slept through spring. I certainly don't begrudge coming home, nor does my bank balance. One of the most important things you can have while travelling is a home worth coming back to, otherwise it's just too depressing passing through the arrivals gate.
It's been a great trip, catching up with many awesome people I don't keep in touch with nearly enough. I also got to do many things I would never do at home; I spent three days straight on a train, rode a bike without a helmet, got around to reading Dickens and got myself into a gallery, or two. I drank Bordeaux red in Bordeaux, ate Cheddar Cheese in Cheddar and Danced to Architecture in Helsinki amid the Architecture of Helsinki.
So now it's time to roll the credits. Hair and makeup done by no one, film and camera work done by team Gawne, catering by the many along the way. Thank you to all of you who lent me your spare beds, couches, floors, who showed us your fabulous cities, who helped me get found when I was lost, who fed and watered me, who put up with me and who were foolish enough to read this blog.
Now that I've unpacked I can start planning the next trip.
I am back home, about to start the same job, as though nothing has happened in the last four months and I somehow just slept through spring. I certainly don't begrudge coming home, nor does my bank balance. One of the most important things you can have while travelling is a home worth coming back to, otherwise it's just too depressing passing through the arrivals gate.
It's been a great trip, catching up with many awesome people I don't keep in touch with nearly enough. I also got to do many things I would never do at home; I spent three days straight on a train, rode a bike without a helmet, got around to reading Dickens and got myself into a gallery, or two. I drank Bordeaux red in Bordeaux, ate Cheddar Cheese in Cheddar and Danced to Architecture in Helsinki amid the Architecture of Helsinki.
So now it's time to roll the credits. Hair and makeup done by no one, film and camera work done by team Gawne, catering by the many along the way. Thank you to all of you who lent me your spare beds, couches, floors, who showed us your fabulous cities, who helped me get found when I was lost, who fed and watered me, who put up with me and who were foolish enough to read this blog.
Now that I've unpacked I can start planning the next trip.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Kyoto - not just Tokyo for the dyslexic
The third and final city that we visited in Japan was the charming former capital of Japan; Kyoto. There are many things about this city I like, it's gridded street layout, the way it's nestled into mountains on all sides so that every long straight street you look down terminates in a wall of green, the way the traffic crossings near the station play little melodies as you cross - but as I've decided to limit highlights to three, I've selected these:
1. Temples
Kyoto is full of Budhist temples and Shinto shrines, many are in the city centre, but they are also liberally scattered around the hillside fringe of the city, set in beautiful gardens. One day Dave and I hired bikes and made it to about a dozen temples at five or six different sites. The ones in this hills have great views over the city.
2. Shopping
Kyoto is also packed full of shopping, souviniers and fashion are equally represented. In the center of the city there are long straight covered streets like Shinkyogoku-dori that are very popular. But some of the best shopping for travel trinkets can be done on the streets leading up to the temples. Coming from a christian background it seems a very strage combination of retail and religion, but it works quite well.
3. Trees
For those of you that have read this blog often (yes, all two of you) you would have probably noticed I generally don't wax poetical about nature very often. But it must be said that the bright reds of the Maple trees in Autumn in Japan is breath taking. I feel that this is possibly not really of the category of 'nature' as Japanese gardens tend to be quite well manicured and groomed. Still, the gardens in the temple grounds were beautiful and very soothing... if it wasn't for the crushing hords of fellow tourists.
1. Temples
Kyoto is full of Budhist temples and Shinto shrines, many are in the city centre, but they are also liberally scattered around the hillside fringe of the city, set in beautiful gardens. One day Dave and I hired bikes and made it to about a dozen temples at five or six different sites. The ones in this hills have great views over the city.
2. Shopping
Kyoto is also packed full of shopping, souviniers and fashion are equally represented. In the center of the city there are long straight covered streets like Shinkyogoku-dori that are very popular. But some of the best shopping for travel trinkets can be done on the streets leading up to the temples. Coming from a christian background it seems a very strage combination of retail and religion, but it works quite well.
3. Trees
For those of you that have read this blog often (yes, all two of you) you would have probably noticed I generally don't wax poetical about nature very often. But it must be said that the bright reds of the Maple trees in Autumn in Japan is breath taking. I feel that this is possibly not really of the category of 'nature' as Japanese gardens tend to be quite well manicured and groomed. Still, the gardens in the temple grounds were beautiful and very soothing... if it wasn't for the crushing hords of fellow tourists.
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